R 722.32  . BJ 2 S82  1904 
Stacy,  Thomas  H. 

Otis  Robinson  Bacheler 


JO. 


At  ftuzd-t 

0Ai/l/*U,  /£*&:, 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
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REV.  OTIS  ROBINSON  BACHELER,  M.D..D.D. 


FIFTY-THREE  YEARS 
MISSIONARY  TO  INDIA 


BY 

REV.  THOMAS  H.  STACY 


AUTHOR  OF 

"IN  THE  PATH  OF  LIGHT  AROUND  THE  WORLD,”  “CONDITIONS 
OF  SPIRITUAL  LIFE,”  ETC..  ETC. 


BOSTON,  MASS.: 

THE  MORNING  STAR  PUBLISHING  HOUSE 
457  Shawmut  Avenue 
1904 


JJSTOF  fmcd5$ 
mar  2 2000 


Copyright,  1904 

By  The  Morning  Star  Publishing  House 


TO  THE  CHURCH  WHICH  .HE  SO  DEVOTEDLY  LOVED 
AND  FAITHFULLY  SERVED;  THE  MISSION  WHICH 
WILL  FEEL  THE  INFLUENCE  OF  HIS  INDUSTRY,  ENTER- 
PRISE, AND  CONSECRATION,  SO  LONG  AS  IT  EXISTS  ; 
AND  TO  THE  NATIVES  OF  INDIA,  WHOSE  PLACE  IN 
HIS  HEART  WAS  NEXT  TO  THAT  OF  JESUS  CHRIST’S, 
THIS  BOOK  IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED. 


Preface 


IN  undertaking  to  set  in  order  a record  of  the 
life  of  Dr.  Bacheler,  together  with  that  of  Mrs. 
Bacheler — a work  which  we  felt  obliged  to  de- 
cline at  first,  on  account  of  other  pressing 
duties — we  were  led  to  do  so  from  two  con- 
siderations. The  first  was,  the  fact  that  the 
record  of  such  a noble  and  useful  life  ought  to 
be  preserved,  to  stimulate  the  church  which  he 
so  faithfully  served,  and  to  profit  the  entire 
Christian  world.  The  second  was,  love  for  the 
man  through  personal  relations.  In  the  highest 
sense  he  was  to  us  a brother  exemplary. 

To  those  who  have  assisted  us  in  this  work, 
we  wish  to  return  thanks.  We  have  had  access 
to  all  of  our  denominational  as  well  as  other 
literature  and  records;  have  used  the  brief 
autobiography  left  by  him ; taken  what  informa- 
tion we  needed  from  his  book  “ Hinduism  and 
Christianity  in  Orissa”;  gleaned  from  diaries, 
private  letters,  and  Records  of  the  Free  Baptist 
Foreign  Mission  Society. 


8 


PREFACE 


We  are  under  special  obligation  to  “ cBatchelder 
BatcheUer  Genealogy" — F.  C.  Pierce,  editor — for 
facts  concerning  Rev.  Stephen  Bachiler,  and  for 
the  BatcheUer  coat  of  arms;  to  The  Morning 
Star,  for  which  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler  wrote 
much  throughout  their  missionary  service ; to 
the  Annual  India  Report;  and  to  Dr.  Mary  W. 
Bacheler,  who  placed  in  our  hands  a large 
amount  of  material  of  both  a public  and  a pri- 
vate character,  and  who  rendered  much  valuable 
personal  assistance.  Great  pains  have  been 
taken  to  verify  dates  and  statements,  and  we 
are  assured  that  the  record,  which  covers  a 
direct  period  of  more  than  eighty-four  years, 
containing  a great  variety  of  changing  events,  is 
reliable. 

The  English  spelling  of  Indian  proper  names 
remains  a mystery.  The  word  Jellasoie  the 
spelling  is  that  always  given  in  the  India  Report— 
is  spelled  in  at  least  four  different  ways;  other 
words  appear  in  about  the  same  variety  of  form. 
After  much  perturbation  of  spirit  we  have  con- 
concluded  to  use  the  spelling  to  which  the  mis- 
sionaries were  accustomed,  in  familiar  names , 
while  for  those  not  frequently  used  by  them  we 


PREFACE 


9 


have  adopted  the  spelling  of  Sir  William  Hunter, 
who  is  a recognized  authority. 

Letters  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler  have  been 
introduced,  in  the  belief  that  through  their  own 
words  their  lives  would  be  better  understood. 
It  is  very  fortunate  that  so  many  communications 
from  them  were  published,  and  thus  preserved  ; 
for  by  this  means  we  are  not  only  able  to  secure 
much  data  concerning  their  lives,  but  also  many 
historical  facts  connected  with  the  mission.  A 
book  composed  entirely  of  their  correspondence 
which  is  now  in  existence  would  greatly  enrich 
the  mission  literature  of  the  world. 

We  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  fact,  here, 
that  the  published  correspondence  of  mission- 
aries, setting  forth  the  conditions  of  the  field  as 
the  Bachelers  did  it,  has  been  very  meager  dur- 
ing the  last  score  of  years  ; for  the  last  two  years 
there  has  been  improvement  in  that  direction. 
On  account  of  this  it  would  be  somewhat  difficult 
to  write  the  history  of  that  period.  Would  not 
such  communications  call  forth  financial  response 
now  as  then?  If  novelty  has  worn  off,  there  is 
still  unfamiliarity  with  the  field  and  its  needs. 

In  attempting  to  chronicle  the  life  of  Dr. 


10 


PREFACE 


Bacbeler  we  have  not  satisfied  ourselves ; but 
we  have  constantly  prayed  that,  while  revealing 
his  strong,  sterling  character,  we  might  be  as 
modest  and  unassuming  for  him  as  he  was  for 
himself. 

May  this  record,  gathered  up  and  sent  forth, 
increase  the  usefulness  of  the  lives  of  those  who 
thus  speak  to  us,  having  passed  on. 

Thomas  H.  Stacy. 


Concord,  N.  H.,  January,  1904. 


Contents 


CHAPTER 

I.  The  Mission  Century;  ancestry;  early 

life i 

II.  Change  in  Church  Relations  ; appoint- 

ment as  Missionaryto  India  ; Ordina- 
tion; MARRIAGE  TO  CATHARINE  ELIZA- 
BETH PALMER;  DEPARTURE  FOR  THE 
Field 30 

III.  THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL;  SICKNESS; 

Getting  to  Work;  Medical  Depart- 
ment   59 

IV.  Bazaar  Preaching;  Cold-Season  work  ; 

Mr.  Noyes  Gives  up  his  work  . 87 

V.  Cold-Season  Work  ; The  Question  of 

SERVANTS;  THE  DISPENSARY;  MANY 
Suggestions 116 

VI.  Close  Contact  with  the  Natives  ; First 

Two  Children  Born  ; illness  and 
Death  of  Mrs.  bacheler.  . .135 

VII.  Sorrow  and  Service;  miss  Sarah  p. 

MERRILL;  ANOTHER  MISSIONARY;  THE 
VOYAGE;  THE  MARRIAGE  . . .162 


12 


CONTENTS 


viii.  A New  form  of  Opposition;  a Danger- 
ous PREACHING  TOUR;  KHAND  SACRI- 
FICES   183 

IX.  Mrs.  bacheler’s  Correspondence;  The 
KHAND  CHILDREN;  CHAPEL  FOR  BALA- 
SORE;  RE-ENFORCEMENTS;  ILLNESS  OF 
MRS.  BACHELER;  RETURN  TO  AMER- 
ICA   231 

X.  HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON  ; MISSION 

AGENT  TO  THE  CHURCHES;  CORRE- 
SPONDING SECRETARY;  TO  INDIA  THE 
Second  Time 247 

XI.  WORK  RESUMED  IN  MlDNAPORE ; THE 

PRESS ; THE  SANTALS  . . . .290 

XII.  The  Santals;  Mrs.  Bacheler’s  Return 

TO  INDIA;  FAMINE;  OPENING  OF  THE 
FIRST  ZENANAS 321 

XIII.  School  Examinations;  Near-by  Sym- 

pathy AND  HELP;  PROSPERITY;  ILL- 
NESS; Return  to  America;  to  India 
THE  THIRD  TIME  . . . .357 

XIV.  Back  to  the  Field;  a New  “Cold- 

Season”  Ground;  a cyclone; 
CHANGES;  The  HIMALAYAS;  AMERICA 
AGAIN 388 


CONTENTS 


13 


XV.  IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN;  TO  INDIA  THE 

FOURTH  TIME  ; MRS.  BACHELER  GOES 
BACK  WITH  RE-ENFORCEMENTS;  THE 
Bible  School;  Fifty  Years;  Seventy- 
fourth  BIRTHDAY;  FAREWELL  RE- 
CEPTION; Once  More  in  Camp  . 413 

XVI.  BACK  IN  AMERICA;  LAST  DAYS;  THE  PASS- 

ING; FUNERAL  SERVICES;  SOME  CHAR- 
ACTERISTICS   446 

XVII.  THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE  . . . .478 


Illustrations 


PAGE 

Dr.  O.  R.  Bacheler 
Coat  of  arms 

Old  School  Bazaar,  Midnapore 69 

Another  favorite  place  for  Bazaar  preaching  in  Mid- 
napore   96 

Tablet  at  grave  of  Mrs.  Bacheler  and  Mrs.  Phillips  . 157 

Bullock  cart 230 

Balasore  church  ........  243 

New  Hampton  home 249 

Press  Building,  Midnapore 297 

Midnapore  Chapel  (from  the  north)  ....  319 

Group  of  ordained  men 327 

Kailas 329 

Midnapore  Chapel 339 

Gateway  to  one  of  the  first  Mohammedan  zenanas 

opened  in  Midnapore 353 

Court  of  one  of  the  first  Mohammedan  zenanas  opened 

in  Midnapore 355 

The  Bacheler  bungalow,  Midnapore  ....  373 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler  and  Mary  ....  394 

Darjeeling  and  the  snows 404 

Sachidananda  Rai 425 

Bible  School  building,  Midnapore  . . . .427 

Christian  village  schoolhouse,  Midnapore  . . . 430 

The  New  Hampton  study 447 

Mask  of  Lavina  Crawford 468 

Family  tablet— New  Hampton  Cemetery  . . -474 

Ferns  of  the  Himalayas 477 

Rev.  Kamal  Nayak 504 


CHAPTER  I 

THE  MISSION  CENTURY— ANCESTRY— EARLY 
LIFE 

“CENTURY  of  missions”  is  a name  which 
has  been  given  to  the  nineteenth  century.  And 
properly  so,  for  it  developed  a greater  effort  in 
diffusing  the  gospel  than  all  the  previous  cen- 
turies of  the  Christian  era  combined.  The 
apparent  results  have  also  been  proportionately 
marked. 

The  conditions  for  this  remarkable  work  did 
not  appear  suddenly  ; they  developed  out  of  the 
eighteenth  century  from  possibilities  produced 
by  the  seventeenth. 

From  1737  to  1739  Jonathan  Edwards  and 
David  Brainerd  in  America,  and  the  Wesleys 
and  Whitefield  in  England,  were  at  the  same 
time,  through  deep  consecration  and  mighty  con- 
viction, awakening  many  to  fervent  religious 
activity,  — a condition  necessary  to  the  pro- 
duction of  mission  zeal  and  missionaries. 

The  Wesleys  were  largely  indebted  to  Chris- 
tian David  and  Peter  Bohler,  Moravians,  for 


2 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


their  induction  into  that  spiritual  experience 
which  gave  rise  to  a new  denomination,  and 
aided  in  hastening  the  great  modern  mission 
movement.  Already  James  Spener  and  August 
Hermann  Franke  had  become  the  spiritual  fathers 
of  the  Danish  Halle  Mission  and  the  Moravian 
Mission,  respectively. 

The  first  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  (1706) 
saw  Ziegenbalg  in  India  — her  first  Protestant 
missionary.  In  the  last  part  of  the  century 
(1792)  William  Carey  preached  a sermon  in 
Nottingham,  England,  which  made  the  barriers 
between  him  and  India  tremble.  In  the  follow- 
ing year  he  went  to  that  country.  To  him  has 
been  ascribed  the  honor  of  being  the  father  of 
organized  missions. 

To  have  lived  through  any  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  nineteenth  century  with  a keen  inter- 
est in  the  progressive  work  of  missions,  has  been 
surpassed,  in  point  of  privilege  and  blessing,  only 
by  being  a missionary  in  the  field  during  the 
same  period. 

Otis  Robinson  Bacheler,  whose  life  we  attempt 
to  record,  lived  through  the  Mission  Century, 
after  its  first  sixteen  years  had  passed.  For 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


3 


fifty-three  years  he  was  an  active  missionary, 
with  few,  if  any,  superiors.  His  part  in  the  move- 
ment was  a substantial  one;  to  it  his  life  was 
thoroughly  consecrated.  He  loved  it  so  intensely 
that  after  returning  on  his  last  furlough,  and  a 
few  years  before  his  death,  he  said  in  General 
Conference,  “ I could  almost  wish  that  the  Hindu 
idea  of  the  transmigration  of  souls  were  true,  and 
that  1 could  come  back  to  this  world  in  a new 
body,  and  give  myself  to  India  again.” 

A brief  account  of  his  ancestry  may  be  of 
interest  here.  Otis  R.  Bacheler  was  a descend- 
ant from  Rev.  Stephen  Bachiler  (Odlin,  Benjamin, 
John,  Nathaniel,  Nathaniel,  Nathaniel,  Stephen). 
The  ancestry  of  Stephen  is  uncertain,  but  it  is 
probable  that  he  descended  from  a French  family 
which  migrated  to  Southampton,  England,  and 
formed  an  important  part  of  the  French  Prot- 
estant church  there.  Stephen  was  born  in 
1560  or  ’61.  He  matriculated  at  the  newly- 
established  college  of  St.  John,  Oxford,  on  Nov. 
17th,  1581;  here  he  took  his  degree  in  1585 
or  ’86,  and  was  installed  as  vicar  in  the 
church  at  Wherewell,  in  Hants,  on  July  15th, 
1587.  He  was  strongly  Nonconformist,  and  was 


4 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


excommunicated  from  the  church,  leaving  his 
Wherewell  vicarage  probably  about  1605.  At 
about  the  time  of  his  coming  to  this  country  he 
was  pastor  of  a Nonconformist  church  in  Hamp- 
ton, Suffolk  County,  near  London.  With  his 
church  he  emigrated  to  New  England  for  the  sake 
of  greater  religious  liberty,  sailing  March  9,  1632, 
on  the  William  and  Francis,  and  reaching  Boston 
on  the  5th  of  the  following  June.  A colony  was 
formed  on  the  seacoast  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
the  locality  was  named  Hampton,  after  the  old 
English  home  town.  He  was  a reformer,  and 
rebelled  at  the  union  of  Church  and  State,  which 
the  strong  Puritan  covenant  enforced.  This 
brought  him  into  opposition  to  the  party  in 
power.  His  experience  in  New  England  was  not 
smooth  or  sunny,  but,  instead,  it  was  rough  and 
vigorous.  Although  of  great  physical  endurance 
these  things  told  upon  him.  In  1654  he  returned 
to  England.  The  last  entry  concerning  him  reads 
as  follows:  “The  ancient  Stephen  Bachiler,  of 
Hampton,  N.  H.,  died  at  Huckney,  a village  and 
parish  in  Middlesex,  two  miles  from  London,  in 
1660,  in  the  100th  year  of  his  age.”  ( Batchelder , 
Batcheller  Genealogy.  Frederick  C.  Pierce .) 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


5 


The  family  name  is  spelled  in  at  least  forty- 
five  different  ways,  and  its  meaning  is  uncertain. 
Various  significations  are  suggested,  as  follows : 
(a)  A young  gentleman  who  aspires  to  be  a 
knight;  (&)  A student  who  has  taken  his  first 
degree  at  a university ; ( c ) An  unmarried  man 
— a lover.  The  Family  Herald,  an  English  mag- 
azine (Aug.  io,  1895),  says  : “ The  term  ‘ Bach- 
eler  ’ is  from  the  Latin  baccalaureus,  one  crowned 
with  laurel.  In  the  French  it  became  ‘ a young 
squire,  not  made  a knight.’  ” (Tlatcbelder , Batch- 
eller  Genealogy.)  We  should  note  here  that  there 
were  six  other  immigrants  of  the  Bachiler  name 
who  came  to  this  country.  What,  if  any,  rela- 
tionship existed  between  them  we-do  not  know, 
excepting  in  two  or  three  instances.  For  many 
years  the  name  was  confined  largely  to  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  Hampshire,  but  later  it  spread 
over  the  country.  Otis  R.,  when  speaking  of 
his  family  once,  said,  “ There  have  been  no 
great  men,  as  the  world  counts  greatness,  in  our 
ancestral  record,  but  in  every  generation,  so  far 
as  we  can  learn,  there  has  been  a large  number 
of  ministers,  and  doctors,  but  I have  never  known 
a lawyer  by  the  name  of  Bacheler.”  An  examina- 


6 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


tion  of  that  branch  of  the  family  discloses  some 
lawyers,  less  than  a dozen.  Great  men  have 
come  from  this  stock,  among  whom  are  Whittier, 
Webster,  B.  F.  Butler,  and  the  sculptor  Franklin 
Simmons.  The  grandfather  of  Otis,  Ensign  Ben- 
jamin Bacheler  of  Candia,  N.  H.,  was  an  officer 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  was  with  Arnold 
in  his  fruitless  attack  on  Quebec.  The  following 
incident,  illustrating  his  self-forgetfulness,  has 
been  handed  down.  He  was  sent  with  a squad 
of  men  to  watch  an  important  point  on  the  banks 
of  the  river  opposite  Quebec,  with  strict  orders 
to  lie  flat  and  keep  concealed.  To  his  astonish- 
ment an  officer  appeared  after  a time  with  an 
order  for  his  arrest.  He  was  hurried  away  to 
headquarters,  where  he  demanded  an  explana- 
tion. “ Were  you  not  ordered  to  lie  close  and 
keep  concealed?”  he  was  asked.  “Yes,  sir, 
and  we  have  done  it,”  was  the  reply.  “ No, 
you  haven’t.  You  were  standing  up  all  the 
time,”  was  the  retort.  He  had  provided  for  the 
safety  of  his  men,  but  had  forgotten  his  own. 
He  was  dismissed  with  a reprimand.  His  expe- 
rience in  the  army  was  not  especially  interesting, 
and  in  due  time  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Can- 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


7 


dia.  By  trade  he  was  a tanner,  currier,  and 
shoemaker  combined,  not  an  unusual  thing  in 
those  days.  He  owned  a small  farm,  had  a com- 
fortable home,  and,  although  he  continued  in 
business  up  to  old  age,  it  does  not  appear  that 
he  accumulated  much  property.  His  last  days 
were  spent  with  his  children  at  Andover,  N.  H., 
where  he  is  buried  near  the  center  of  the  town. 
His  wife  was  a Prescott,  a cousin  of  Colonel 
Prescott  of  Bunker  Hill  fame. 

Odlin,  the  father  of  Otis,  adopted  the  trade  of 
his  father,  and  was  in  business  with  him  for  sev- 
eral years.  While  living  in  Candia  seven  chil- 
dren— four  sons  and  three  daughters  — were 
born  into  the  family,  but  in  consequence  of 
intemperate  habits  brought  about  by  medical 
treatment  through  a long  and  painful  illness, 
Odlin  Bacheler  was  reduced  to  comparative  pov- 
erty, and,  gathering  the  little  left  in  his  pos- 
session, he  moved  to  the  backwoods  of  Andover, 
purchased  a small  tract  of  land,  and  set  to  work, 
hewing  out  a farm  amid  primeval  forest.  He 
built  a small  house  with  two  ground  rooms  and 
an  attic,  also  a barn.  Here  the  family  might 
have  been  comfortable  had  it  not  been  for  the 


8 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


drink  habit  which  clung  to  the  head  of  the  fam- 
ily. For  nearly  twenty  years  the  family  lived  in 
Andover  upon  the  proceeds  of  the  farm,  always 
in  poor  circumstances,  sometimes  in  want.  Here, 
near  the  Wilmot  line,  almost  under  the  shadow  of 
Kearsarge  Mountain,  Otis  was  born  on  January 
17th,  1817,  the  youngest  of  the  children  who 
survived  infancy.  Two  other  children  were  born 
here,  Frederick  L.  and  a girl  who  died  at  birth. 

Longevity,  hardiness,  and  constitutional  strength 
belonged  to  the  Bacheler  family  in  a large  meas- 
ure. The  grandfather  of  Otis  lived  to  be  ninety, 
the  father  eighty-four,  an  uncle  died  at  eighty- 
seven.  None  of  his  brothers  and  sisters  who 
survived  infancy  died  under  seventy-five.  John 
reached  eighty-nine  ; when  Otis  passed  away  he 
lacked  only  sixteen  days  of  being  eighty-four. 
Frederick  L.,  still  living,  was  born  Jan.  17,  1815. 

Huldah  L.  (Searl)  Bacheler,  the  mother  of 
Otis,  was  a brave  woman,  and  many  of  her 
excellent  qualities  were  imparted  to  her  children. 
In  the  midst  of  poverty,  hardship,  and  affliction 
she  kept  her  children  together  until  they  were 
able  to  provide  for  themselves.  As  the  boys 
grew  up,  one  after  the  other,  William,  Benjamin, 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


9 


John,  and  George  found  their  way  to  Holliston, 
Mass.,  where,  being  shoemakers  from  boyhood, 
they  went  into  that  business,  grew  as  it  grew, 
and  in  time  became  thriving  manufacturers  among 
the  prominent  and  wealthy  men  of  the  place.  All 
of  them  became  members  of  the  Congregational 
church. 

The  child  life  of  “ little  Otis,”  as  he  was 
called,  was  uneventful  ; the  world  to  him  was 
very  small,  and  yet  as  we  consider  those  limita- 
tions, and  note  the  hardships,  the  economy,  and 
the  brave,  determined  struggle  of  those  days  and 
on,  to  his  going  to  the  mission  field,  we  plainly 
see  how  through  those  experiences  he  was  being 
fitted  to  become  the  devoted,  painstaking,  inven- 
tive, and  economical  missionary  who  did  so  much 
for  India,  and  who  won  our  confidence  and  love. 
I would  that  children  and  youth  might  learn  from 
this  sweet  and  noble  life  that  such  limitations 
were  not  designed  to  circumscribe  but  to  develop. 
Otis  tells  us  that  his  earliest  recollection  was  of 
a new  garment,  made  from  an  old  one  which 
belonged  to  his  sister  Mary.  It  was  red,  and  it 
pleased  him  so  much  that,  when  he  put  it  on  the 
first  time,  he  celebrated  the  event  by  dancing 


10 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


about  the  room  in  high  glee.  This  excited  the 
dog,  and  he,  joining  in  the  frolic,  made  a sad  rent 
in  the  new  garment.  He  was  probably  not  more 
than  four  years  old  at  that  time. 

Money  was  very  scarce  and  but  little  used 
among  the  people  in  those  backwoods.  Otis’s 
first  experience  in  finance  was  at  about  the  same 
time  with  his  red  dress  episode.  A friend  of  the 

family  called  and  gave  him  a cent.  This  first 

$ 

cent  he  held  onto.  When  six  years  old  he  was 
one  day  at  the  wood-pile  chopping  wood,  when 
his  father  pointed  out  to  him  a log  and  told  him 
that  if  he  would  chop  it  up,  he  would  give  him  a 
cent.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon,  but  he  worked 
away  at  it  lustily  until  almost  dark,  and  so  earned 
his  first  money.  Those  two  cents  formed  the 
nucleus  of  what  seemed  to  him  a fortune ; by 
gathering  stumps,  burning  them,  and  selling  the 
ashes  at  ten  cents  per  bushel,  he  added  to  those 
two  cents,  so  that  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  when 
the  home  at  Andover  was  broken  up,  he  had 
accumulated  i6f  cents  — a New  England  shilling. 
He  afterward  declared  that  then  he  felt  rich.  To 
this  he  added,  from  time  to  time,  by  doing  extra 
work,  until  two  or  three  years  later  he  made  his 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


11 


first  investment  of  $4.44,  for  which  he  received  a 
note,  bearing  interest.  “ Then,”  he  says,  “ I 
was  independent.” 

Concerning  those  early  years,  Otis  said  later 
in  life  : “ During  the  time  we  lived  in  Andover, 
our  circumstances  must  have  been  very  strait- 
ened, yet  I never  heard  a complaint,  for  our 
brave  mother  with  careful  economy  managed  to 
keep  us  all  comfortably  clothed  and  fed.  We 
planted  potatoes,  corn,  and  rye,  and  sometimes  a 
little  wheat,  and  that  constituted  our  daily  food. 
1 never  knew  of  any  but  the  common  necessaries 
of  life,  except  now  and  then  a jug  of  molasses. 

“ We  sowed  a little  flax,  and  kept  a few  sheep, 
and  from  these  our  clothes  were  manufactured  by 
our  thrifty  mother.  My  lullaby  was  the  sound  of 
the  spinning-wheel  and  loom  during  the  long  win- 
ter evenings,  as  I lay  in  my  trundle-bed  in  the 
common  living-room.  A hog  was  slaughtered 
every  fall,  and  this  afforded  our  supply  of  meat 
for  the  year,  except  an  occasional  fowl  from  the 
hen-roost. 

“On  the  plain  fare  1 have  spoken  of,  mother 
raised  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters, 
all  of  them  stalwart  men  and  women,  all  of  whom 


12 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


without  much  sickness  lived  to  a good  old  age. 
My  brothers  were  all  six-footers,  and  exception- 
ally strong  and  muscular.  1 went  on  to  the  shoe 
bench  at  ten,  and  never  grew  so  strong  and  large 
as  they,  only  reaching  five  feet  eight  inches. 

“ No  butcher’s  or  baker’s  cart,  or  milkman,  or 
peddler  of  any  kind  ever  came  to  our  door,  and 
for  a good  reason  : there  was  no  money.  The 
only  articles  we  ever  took  to  market,  as  well  as  I 
can  remember,  were  ashes,  a little  wool,  hay, 
and  a little  bark  to  the  tannery.  How  we  man- 
aged to  live  under  such  circumstances,  I cannot 
now  understand,  but  I have  no  recollection  of 
ever  suffering  from  want,  and  1 think  we  were  as 
well  off  as  most  of  our  neighbors.” 

During  the  last  of  those  years  in  Andover,  the 
father  spent  but  little  time  at  home.  He  got  the 
hay  in  summer,  fitted  up  the  children  with  shoes 
in  the  fall,  but  that  was  about  all  he  did  for  the 
family.  During  the  last  year,  he  left  the  family 
entirely,  and  they  heard  of  him  as  being  at  work 
in  Lowell. 

Debts  accumulated,  largely  on  account  of  drink. 
Mortgages  were  foreclosed,  sheriff’s  attachments 
put  upon  all  property,  and  the  family  were  left 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


13 


without  a home.  A small  hired  tenement  gave 
them  shelter  through  the  winter ; in  the  spring 
they  planned  to  go  to  Holliston,  Mass. 

Not  only  did  the  mother  provide  faithfully  for 
the  temporal  needs  of  the  children,  but  she  also 
taught  them  religiously.  Otis  says  : — 

“ One  day,  when  1 was  about  eight  years  old,  a 
neighbor’s  wife  came  into  our  house  and  told  my 
mother  that  I had  been  stealing  her  apples,  and 
that  was  why  I was  sick.  I instantly  denied  it, 
but  mother  believed  old  Mother  Gwyn  instead  of 
me,  and  though  she  knew  1 wasn’t  well  she  gave 
me  a smart  whipping.  I crept  under  the  bed  and 
cried  in  my  rage,  and  meditated  revenge,  and  a 
few  days  after,  when  1 was  well  again,  I did  go 
and  fill  my  tow  dress  skirt  with  her  apples.” 
Surely  such  a disposition  needed  religious  train- 
ing, and  this  the  mother  did  not  fail  to  see,  for  he 
further  says : “ 1 know  that  the  many  pious 
talks  my  mother  used  to  give  me  in  my  early 
childhood,  as  1 sat  in  her  lap  or  stood  by  her  side, 
have  been  a precious  boon  to  me  through  life.” 
School  advantages  in  those  Andover  backwoods 
were  very  meagre.  Meetings  were  held  in  the 
schoolhouse,  and  the  religious  interest  in  the 


14 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


community  was  excellent.  Two  ministers  of 
those  days  made  a marked  impression  upon  the 
mind  of  “ little  Otis,”  and  were  always  remem- 
bered by  him,  exerting  a more  sacred  influence 
upon  his  life  than  they  were  aware  of,  probably  ; 
they  were  Elder  Cross  of  Wilmot,  and  Elder 
Watson  of  Andover.  A Congregational  minister 
in  the  neighboring  town  of  Salisbury  was  held  in 
high  esteem  by  the  mother,  and  when  the  women 
of  the  neighborhood  gathered  to  recognize  and 
name  the  youngest  born,  it  was  decided  to  name 
him  for  the  respected  minister,  Otis  Robinson. 
It  is  said  that  at  that  time  the  mother  faintly 
expressed  a hope  that  the  boy  might  become  a 
minister,  although  she  was  not  at  that  time  a pro- 
fessing Christian. 

Daniel  Webster  once  said  that  New  Hamp- 
shire is  a good  State  to  emigrate  from.  This 
family  seemed  to  find  it  so  ; Candia  and  the 
rocky  backwoods  farm  of  Andover  produced  eight 
specimens  of  the  genus  homo  that  under  more 
favorable  circumstances  in  Massachusetts  grew  to 
be  stalwart,  attaining  to  more  than  average  emi- 
nence in  business,  social,  and  literary  circles. 
The  coarse  and  homely  fare,  the  total  absence 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


15 


of  luxuries,  gave  to  the  children  constitutions 
which  disease,  hard  work,  and  exposure  could 
make  little  impression  upon.  Those  early  expe- 
riences also  induced  innate  independence.  Look- 
ing back  over  nearly  three-quarters  of  a century, 
Dr.  Bacheler  said  : “ Under  God,  what  we  have 
been  and  what  we  had  in  life  have  been  our  own 
production,  for  which  we  have  been  indebted  to 
no  man.  We  have  paid  our  own  way  in  the 
world  ; if  any  more,  it  is  not  for  me  to  say.” 

In  what  has  already  been  said,  and  especially 
in  what  follows  in  this  and  the  second  chapter 
of  this  biography,  it  will  be  plainly  seen  that 
under  the  guiding  hand  of  God  and  with  the 
help  of  a devoted  mother,  the  man  of  whom  we 
write,  the  devoted  minister  to  the  spiritual  needs 
of  the  heathen,  the  faithful  physician  to  their 
bodies,  the  loyal  Christian  brother,  the  man  most 
respected  and  loved  by  those  who  knew  him 
best,  was  in  the  truest  sense  a self-made  man. 
Conditions  which  would  have  discouraged  and 
defeated  some,  only  stimulated  and  spurred  him 
on  to  the  greatest  determination  and  most  per- 
sistent endeavor.  Sequel  — a most  successful 
missionary. 


16 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


In  the  spring  of  1827,  the  spring  following  the 
surrender  of  the  little  home,  William,  the  oldest 
son,  came  to  Andover  and  took  Frederick  and 
Otis,  the  only  children  remaining  there,  to  Hol- 
liston.  The  mother  remained  with  her  sister 
Buzzell  until  the  autumn,  when  she  followed. 
Frederick,  who  was  twelve  years  old,  went  to 
work  in  the  shop  of  his  brother  William,  and 
Otis,  who  was  then  ten,  went  to  work  in  the 
shop  of  his  brother  John.  “ From  this  time 
onward,”  says  Otis,  “ I say  it  with  pride,  we 
were  able  to  make  our  own  way  in  the  world. 
Here  for  some  years  our  business  was  closing 
shoes.  My  recollections  of  the  shoe  shop  are 
very  pleasant.  My  brother  was  an  earnest 
Christian.  He  usually  had  six  or  eight  men  in 
the  shop  ; they  were  intelligent  men  of  steady 
habits,  and,  without  exception,  church-goers. 
Profane  or  vulgar  language  was  never  heard 
there ; the  conversation  of  the  shop  was  always 
free,  intelligent,  and  frequently  religious.” 

School  advantages  in  Holliston  were  superior 
to  those  in  Andover.  A boy  of  the  age  of  Otis, 
and  like  him  upon  the  working  list,  was  supposed 
to  get  about  ten  weeks  of  school  in  winter  only. 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


17 


But  the  people  of  the  town  had  the  advantage 
of  books,  newspapers,  a lyceum,  and  a public 
library,  with  Sabbath  meetings  and  a Sunday 
school. 

About  three  years  after  the  family  moved  from 
Andover  to  Holliston  the  father  suddenly  ap- 
peared, a well  dressed  and  healthful-looking  man. 
A great  change  in  him  was  apparent ; he  had 
abandoned  his  intemperate  habits,  and  from  that 
day  until  his  death  — a period  of  twenty-five 
years  — he  never  tasted  liquor  of  any  kind.  He 
became  somewhat  prominent  in  society  ; being  a 
good  singer,  and  having  been  engaged  in  teaching 
singing  schools  often,  he  led  the  church  choir  for 
several  years.  He  held  important  positions  in 
the  town, — for  some  years  was  constable. 
He  made  a profession  of  religion,  and  united  with 
the  Congregational  church.  On  the  Monday 
morning  succeeding  the  Lord’s  Day  on  which  he 
united  with  the  church  the  family  were  greatly 
surprised  on  coming  to  the  breakfast  table  to  see 
him  stand  and  crave  a blessing,  and  after  the  • 
meal  to  bring  out  the  old  family  Bible,  read  a 
chapter,  and  pray.  This  habit  of  family  devotion 
he  continued  without  interruption  through  the. 


18 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


remainder  of  his  life.  What  a change  ! What 
had  God  wrought ! Then  it  was  a happy  family  ; 
father,  mother,  Frederick,  Otis,  and  a part  of  the 
time  George  and  Mary  at  home,  and  probably 
happier  together  than  they  ever  had  been  before. 

Otis  speaks  of  his  own  conversion  as  the  great 
event  of  his  life.  Let  him  tell  it  to  us  in  his  own 
words.  He  says  : — 

“ The  great  event  of  my  life  transpired  in  my 
fourteenth  year.  Rev.  Mr.  Fitch,  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  church,  the  only  church  in  town, 
was  an  earnest  Christian  worker,  a faithful  min- 
ister of  the  gospel.  Anxious  for  the  salvation  of 
his  numerous  charges,  he  arranged  for  a ‘four 
days’  meeting,’  the  first  form  of  protracted  meet- 
ing introduced  into  New  England.  Several  prom- 
inent ministers  were  invited  to  aid.  Business  was 
largely  suspended,  and  good  congregations  gath- 
ered daily.  Our  father  took  his  boys  to  the 
meeting.  I was  not  specially  interested  at  first, 
for  1 had  fully  made  up  my  mind  that  the  time 
had  not  come  for  me  to  be  a Christian.  1 would 
wait  till  1 became  a man,  and  that  would  be  time 
enough.  The  sermons  were  argumentative  and 
convincing,  particularly  those  of  Mr.  Fairchild  of 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


19 


Boston.  But  I kept  saying  to  myself,  ‘ Not  yet ; 
I will  wait.’  The  interest  constantly  increased 
as  the  days  passed,  and  many  were  deeply 
stirred.  The  last  afternoon  came.  Mr.  Fairfield 
had  preached  a powerful  discourse.  I remained 
firm  in  my  determination.  Mr.  Wood,  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  church  in  Upton,  rose  to  make 
the  closing  remarks.  He  was  an  elderly  man 
and  deeply  sympathetic.  The  tones  of  his  voice 
were  tender  and  melting.  His  theme  was  ‘ Love 
— God’s  love  to  us  — Christ’s  sufferings  for  us.’ 
The  whole  congregation  melted  under  his  loving 
appeal.  Then  I broke  down.  My  strong  will 
vanished,  and  I cried,  ‘ Lord,  I yield,  I will  follow 
thee  now.’  The  invitation  was  given  for  all  who 
wished  to  manifest  their  desire  for  salvation,  to 
retire  to  the  town  hall  near  by.  Fully  three 
hundred  were  gathered  there.  Some  remarks 
were  made,  and  then  the  invitation  was  given 
for  all  who  were  willing  to  become  the  followers 
of  Christ  to  kneel  down  while  prayer  would  be 
offered.  The  Congregationalists  were  not  a 
kneeling  people.  1 had  not  seen  men  on  their 
knees  since  1 had  left  the  Free  Baptist  meetings 
in  New  Hampshire.  It  was  a crucial  test. 


20 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Nearly  all  seemed  to  fall  upon  their  knees.  I 
hesitated  for  a moment,  then  1 slid  down  on  my 
knees  out  of  sight.  As  the  result  of  these  meet- 
ings, a large  number  were  gathered  into  the 
church.  1 had  the  idea,  then  quite  common, 
that  it  would  be  necessary  for  one  becoming  a 
Christian  to  have  a season  of  conviction, 
mourning,  and  darkness  before  the  light  would 
break,  and  so  I went  on  mourning  for  days  and 
weeks,  almost  discouraged  at  times,  till  one 
evening  as  I was  going  home  from  meeting,  and 
just  passing  the  graveyard  (I  know  the  spot 
well),  the  light  burst  in  upon  my  soul,  and 
instantly  1 was  filled  with  joy  and  gladness, 
such  as  I had  never  known  before.  Then  1 felt 
1 was  a new  creature,  new  in  Christ.  That 
joy  and  peace  have  never  left  me  during  these 
three  score  years  and  more.  1 was  fourteen 
years  old,  not  old  enough  to  be  noticed  much, 
still  1 found  a few,  a very  few,  who  would  speak 
kindly  to  me  and  help  me.” 

A number  of  boys  about  the  age  of  Otis  were 
converted  in  this  revival,  and  a deep  sympathy 
grew,  up  among  them;  together  they  attended 
meetings  far  and  near,  but  did  not  take  any  part ; 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


21 


there  was  not  the  place  for  young  people  in  the 
church  then  which  exists  now,  and  they  were 
too  young  to  be  generally  noticed.  As  a result  of 
the  revival  at  Holliston  many  united  with  the 
church  and  became  strong  Christians  ; but  rest- 
lessness and  discontent  rested  upon  those  who 
had  resisted  the  Spirit.  It  was  according  to  the 
teaching  of  Jesus  : “ He  that  is  not  with  me  is 
against  me,  and  he  that  gathereth  not  with  me 
scattereth  abroad.” 

The  next  step  after  rejecting  the  truth  is  oppo- 
sition to  it.  This  was  true  in  this  case.  In  the 
minds  of  many  of  those  opposed,  the  minister 
had  committed  a great  offence  — almost  a crime 
— he  had  brought  about  a revival,  and  disturbed 
the  peace  of  the  community.  There  must  be  a 
change.  He  must  go,  that  peace  might  be 
restored.  Much  agitation  followed,  town  meet- 
ings were  called  until  the  opposition  carried  their 
point.  The  minister,  Mr.  Fitch,  was  dismissed, 
and  a pall  of  darkness  settled  down  upon  the 
church,  which  did  not  break  for  many  years. 
Ah,  the  church  at  Holliston  is  not  the  only  church 
which  has  faced  duty,  and  refused  to  do  it, 
until  to  it  the  words  of  Jesus  were  verified, 


22 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


“ Your  house  is  left  unto  you  desolate and  like 
Israel  in  the  wilderness  it  reached  the  promised 
land  of  prosperity  only  after  that  generation  had 
passed. 

But  God  does  not  leave  his  faithful  ones  alone. 
Right  here  we  meet  a new  condition  which  prob- 
ably had  much  to  do  with  the  future  course  of 
Otis  R.  Bacheler.  Encouraged  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Fitch,  a Methodist  itinerant  preacher  had  occa- 
sionally' preached  in  the  place,  and  won  the 
confidence  of  the  people.  Many  converts  had 
been  left  outside  of  the  Congregational  church, 
and  now  would  not  unite  with  it.  They  were 
like  sheep  without  a shepherd.  The  church  grew 
more  disorderly  and  lapsed  into  spiritual  indiffer- 
ence. Under  these  conditions  the  Methodist 
preacher  came  more  frequently,  and  was  heartily 
welcomed,  especially  among  those  converts  who 
had  been  left  outside  the  church. 

Regular  meetings  were  established,  classes 
were  formed,  a church  organized,  and  a church 
building  erected.  Remarkable  prosperity  fol- 
lowed, converts  of  the  recent  revival  united  with 
this  church,  and  the  revival  spirit  was  rekindled  ; 
it  continued  for  a long  time. 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


23 


With  many  of  his  associates  “little  Otis” 
was  baptized  by  immersion,  and  united  with  the 
Methodist  church. 

During  these  days  he  came  to  duties  which 
seemed  heavy  crosses  but  to  shrink  from  them 
was  to  go  back  ; progress  lay  in  the  direction  of 
taking  them  up.  To  him  there  was  only  one 
way,  namely,  to  do  his  duty.  Concerning  his 
experience  at  this  time  he  says  : — 

“ In  this  connection,  1 may  mention  some  of 
the  heavy  crosses  of  my  life.  The  first  was  to 
kneel  down  in  the  town  hall  with  three  hundred 
penitents.  The  next  was  to  open  my  mouth  in 
meeting.  1 had  been  repeatedly  urged  to  do 
this,  but  I could  not.  I was  dumb.  Finally  l 
resolved  to  make  the  attempt.  A meeting  was 
appointed  at  a private  house  two  miles  away. 
I knew  it  would  be  a small  meeting,  and  I 
resolved  there  to  break  my  bonds  and  open  my 
mouth.  It  was  a rainy  evening,  and  the  mud 
was  deep ; but  as  I plodded  on  through  the 
darkness,  I was  exceedingly  joyful  and  kept 
saying  that  but  few  would  be  there  and  I should 
not  be  foiled,  and  how  thankful  1 was  for  the 
mud.  There  were  not  more  than  half  a dozen 


24 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


who  had  braved  the  storm.  I uttered  a few 
simple  words  and  the  spell  was  broken.  The 
victory,  once  gained,  was  lifelong.  These  two 
instances  I have  regarded  as  the  greatest  crosses 
of  my  life.” 

It  is  not  strange  that  with  this  radical  change 
in  his  life  there  came  a complete  change  of  plans. 
He  had  been  living  for  self  alone,  thinking  how 
he  might  follow  in  the  steps  of  his  older  brothers 
who  were  successful  business  men  ; now  God 
had  led  him  to  recognize  his  obligations  to  Him 
and  to  his  fellow-men.  He  saw  in  this  young 
Christian  a messenger  to  the  heathen.  Not 
long  after  his  conversion  his  life  began  to  be 
moved  by  higher  aims  ; his  thoughts  did  not 
resolve  into  definite  plans  at  that  time,  but 
already  the  premonitions  of  God  were  upon  him, 
his  soul  was  filled  with  unutterable  love,  lifted 
up  into  the  consciousness  that  it  had  found 
itself,  and  that  he  had  in  the  future  a special 
work  given  of  God.  Happy  are  they  upon 
whom  such  a day  dawns. 

His  first  definite  plan  in  this  direction  was 
to  carry  out  the  conviction  that  he  must  get  an 
education.  He  had  access  to  the  town  library, 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


25 


which  was  small  and  neglected  ; the  most  impor- 
tant books  of  this  library  he  read  ; some  of 
them  were  theological.  Very  soon  increased 
opportunities  for  learning  were  offered  by  the 
opening  of  a high  school,  which  he  attended  in 
addition  to  the  usual  ten  weeks  of  district  school 
in  the  winter. 

These  privileges  did  not  satisfy  him ; they 
served  to  intensify  his  eagerness  for  better  ones, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  arranged  with  his 
father  to  purchase  his  time,  that  he  might  pursue 
his  studies  without  any  interruption.  The  price 
at  first  agreed  upon  was  three  hundred  dollars, 
but,  wishing  to  encourage  him  in  this  noble 
endeavor,  his  father  reduced  it  to  two  hundred 
dollars. 

Now  the  struggle  for  an  education  began  with 
great  earnestness  ; he  attended  school  regularly, 
boarding  at  home.  The  larger  boys  were  required 
to  be  in  attendance  only  at  the  opening  in  the 
morning  and  at  recitations ; he  was  included 
among  this  number.  Otis  usually  took  two 
studies,  rarely  three.  He  got  up  at  four  o’clock 
in  the  morning,  studied  until  nine,  then  went  to 
opening  exercises  and  recitations ; the  rest  of 


26 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


the  day  was  spent  on  the  bench.  He  was  a 
good  shoemaker,  and  worked  with  a will,  having 
an  object  in  view  which  reached  far  into  the 
future.  Arranging  an  attachment  to  his  bench 
upon  which  he  could  place  a book,  out  of  the 
way,  and  yet  where  he  could  study  it,  he  set  up 
his  Greek  or  Latin  grammar,  taking  a glance  at 
the  book,  and  at  the  same  time  pegging  away  at 
the  shoes.  In  this  way  his  time  was  turned  to  a 
good  account  both  for  study  and  shoe-making. 
He  remained  in  the  school  four  years  or  more, 
and  nearly  completed  a fitting  for  college.  The 
income  from  his  work  paid  his  expenses  and  left 
a small  amount  for  clothing. 

When  he  was  eighteen  he  taught  his  first 
school.  It  was  in  Upton.  The  term  was  eight 
weeks,  for  which  he  received  eighteen  dollars 
per  month  besides  board.  All  but  one  dollar  of 
this  he  turned  over  to  his  father  on  the  account 
of  his  time.  His  next  school  was  in  Newton 
Center,  a term  of  four  months  at  twenty  dollars 
per  month.  Most  of  this  went  to  his  father. 
Then  he  taught  two  terms  of  six  months  each 
in  Watertown,  receiving  twenty-five  dollars  per 
month,  with  which  he  was  able  to  square  the 
account  for  his  time. 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


27 


In  the  intervals  between  teaching  he  was 
back  in  Holliston,  working  on  the  bench,  with 
the  exception  of  a few  weeks  spent  at  Wil- 
braham.  At  Wilbraham  there  was  an  academy, 
a Methodist  institution,  at  which  he  thought  he 
might  better  himself.  He  resolved  to  try  it. 
Although  it  was  seventy  miles  away  he  walked 
the  distance  in  two  days,  hired  a room  in  which 
to  board  himself,  and  began  to  study.  He  lived 
very  simply,  mostly  upon  hasty  pudding,  occa- 
sionally having  molasses  with  it.  For  variety, 
he  had  “sap  porridge,”  which  was  made  of 
meal,  molasses,  and  water  boiled  together.  He 
found  no  good  chance  to  help  himself  here  by 
work,  got  homesick,  and  after  a few  weeks  set 
out  for  home  with  his  clothes  and  books  in  a 
bundle  upon  his  back,  living  by  the  way  on 
Boston  crackers. 

His  weekly  expenses  at  Wilbraham,  including 
room  rent,  were  seventy-five  cents.  No  doubt 
he  was  getting,  in  these  experiences,  some  val- 
uable preparation  for  his  future  work.  Through 
these  years  he  was  hale  and  hearty. 

After  this  he  tried  the  Methodist  school  at 
Kent’s  Hill,  Maine.  He  paid  a dollar  for  his 


28 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


passage  to  Augusta  on  a schooner,  and  walked 
from  that  place  to  the  school.  He  liked  very 
well,  but  could  get  no  work  at  his  trade  there. 
He  could  do  better  at  Holliston,  and  very  soon 
returned  to  that  place.  When  speaking  of  his 
religious  life  during  these  years,  he  said,  “My 
religious  life  during  these  years,  as  1 now  look 
back  upon  it,  affords  me  much  comfort  and 
satisfaction.”  The  Methodist  church  at  Holliston 
was  composed  of  active  Christians ; not  only 
were  meetings  held  regularly  at  the  church, 
but  often  in  schoolhouses  and  private  residences 
in  various  parts  of  the  town.  Wherever  the 
meeting  was  he  was  usually  sure  to  be  present, 
without  regard  to  the  state  of  weather  or  trav- 
eling, and  it  was  his  custom  to  take  part.  His 
faithfulness  and  excellent  qualities  were  appre- 
ciated, and  as  time  went  on  he  became  super- 
intendent of  the  Sabbath  school,  a class  leader, 
and  almost  an  “ exhorter.”  He  says:  “I  am 
not  sure  what  others  thought  of  me,  but  I 
imagine  that  I was  looked  upon  as  a steady 
young  man  of  moderate  abilities  ; as  to  scholar- 
ship, I certainly  stood  not  above  the  average. 
My  brother  Frederick,  two  years  older,  was  a 
fine  scholar,  and  left  me  far  in  the  rear.” 


THE  MISSION  CENTURY 


29 


His  opinion  of  his  abilities  and  efforts  was  very 
modest,  but  his  courage  amid  difficult  circum- 
stances, his  loyalty  to  conviction,  his  readiness 
•to  deny  himself  for  the  sake  of  accomplishing 
the  great  purpose  which  he  had,  have  rarely 
been  excelled  or  equalled  in  youth. 

Surely  God  was  making  no  mistake  in  laying 
his  hands  upon  such  a young  man.  The  world 
might  reasonably  expect  to  hear  from  him,  and 
feel  the  power  of  his  life  when  his  opportunity 
should  come. 


CHAPTER  II 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS —APPOINTMENT 
AS  MISSIONARY  TO  INDIA  — ORDINATION — 
MARRIAGE  TO  CATHARINE  ELIZABETH 
PALMER  — DEPARTURE  FOR 
THE  FIELD 

CONVERSION  brought  to  Otis  R.  Bacheler  the 
conviction  that  he  must  preach  the  gospel. 
He  surrendered  to  the  conviction,  and  began 
at  once  to  prepare  for  the  ministry.  He  had 
become  deeply  interested  in  the  heathen.  The 
death  of  Melville  Fox  in  Africa,  and  his  dying 
words,  “ Let  thousands  die  ere  Africa  be  given 
up,”  made  a great  impression  upon  him.  “ This 
plea,”  he  says,  “rang  through  my  soul  ever 
after,”  and  he  earnestly  wished  to  be  a mis- 
sionary to  “ the  dark  continent.” 

About  that  time  church  authorities  decided 
that  Europeans  could  not  live  in  Africa,  and 
that  in  the  future  only  colored  people  should 
be  sent  there.  This  decision  greatly  disap- 
pointed him,  and  while  he  felt  obliged  to  renounce 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


31 


his  long-cherished  desire  to  go  to  Africa,  he  did 
not  surrender  his  intention  to  become  a mis- 
sionary. South  America  then  seemed  to  be  the 
only  field  opening  up  to  him,  and  he  took  up  the 
study  of  Spanish,  thinking  that  he  might  be 
led  to  that  country  ; but  about  that  time  an 
important  event  transpired  that  broke  up  his 
plans,  and  led  him  to  believe  for  a time  that  it 
was  out  of  the  question  for  him  to  become  a 
missionary.  The  abolition  contest  was  then 
raging  furiously,  and  many  of  the  northern 
Methodists  were  strongly  tinctured  with  anti- 
slavery sentiments.  The  southern  Methodists 
demanded  that  the  agitation  of  the  subject  should 
be  suppressed  throughout  the  Methodist  church, 
and  threatened  to  secede  if  this  were  not  done. 
A strong  body  of  proslavery  advocates  came  on 
to  attend  the  Northern  Conferences.  The  New 
York  Conference  was  but  slightly  tinctured  with 
the  obnoxious  sentiment,  and  the  three  or  four 
ministers  who  were  implicated  were  easily 
silenced. 

The  great  battle  had  to  be  fought  in  the 
New  England  Conference.  The  session  was 
held  in  Boston,  in  the  North  Bennett  Street 


32 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


church.  Dr.  Bacheler  was  there,  a quiet 
but  very  interested  listener.  Several  of  the 
strongest  men  in  the  Conference  were  active 
abolitionists.  The  battle  was  fierce  and  long ; 
neither  party  would  yield.  However,  a majority 
were  willing  to  submit  to  the  demands  of  the 
South.  They  did  so,  and  the  pronounced  aboli- 
tionists decided  to  secede  amd  organize  a new 
denomination.  Orange  Scott  and  Jotham  Horton, 
men  eminent  for  their  talents  and  piety,  were 
leaders  in  the  movement.  The  effect  of  this 
meeting  upon  Dr.  Bacheler,  and  the  results  to 
which  it  led  him,  will  be  described  best  in  his 
own  language.  He  says  : — 

“ 1 left  that  Conference  with  the  conviction 
that  1 could  not  be  a minister  in  the  Methodist 
connection.  This  was  a sore  trial  to  me,  for 
my  heart  had  long  been  set  on  going  to  some 
mission  field,  and  with  leaving  the  Methodist 
connection  I must  forego  my  long-cherished 
desire.  My  sympathies  from  childhood  had  been 
with  the  Free-will  Baptists,  and,  had  there  been 
a church  of  that  denomination  within  reach,  I 
think  1 should  have  united  with  them  at  the 
outset ; but  there  were  none  nearer  than  Boston 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


33 


on  one  side,  and  Rhode  Island  on  the  other. 
My  older  brother  Frederick  had  already  united 
with  the  Baptists  at  Medway,  five  miles  away, 
but  he  had  imbibed  strong  Calvinistic  senti- 
ments, the  only  one  of  our  family,  though  all 
the  older  members,  parents  included,  had  joined 
the  Congregationalists.  The  next  winter  1 was 
to  teach  a six  months’  school  at  Watertown.  So 
on  leaving  Holliston,  I took  a letter  from  the 
Methodist  minister  to  enable  me  to  unite  else- 
where, not  telling  him  I was  leaving  the  denom- 
ination. At  Watertown  I was  six  miles  from 
Boston,  where  there  were  then  two  Free  Baptist 
churches,  and  one  in  Charlestown.  I found  it 
quite  convenient  to  walk  into  town  Sabbath 
mornings,  attend  one  or  two  of  these  meetings, 
and  walk  back  in  the  evening.  During  the 
winter  I concluded  to  offer  myself  to  the  Cause- 
way Street  Freewill  Baptist  church,  Dr.  Holman 
pastor.  I called  on  the  Doctor,  and  was  kindly 
received.  I told  him  my  whole  story,  not  omit- 
ting my  long-cherished  desire  to  be  a missionary, 
and  what  a trial  it  had  been  to  abandon  it.  He 
did  not  seem  to  have  much  missionary  enthu- 
siasm, but  advised  me  to  think  more  favorably  of 


34 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


the  opening  western  field.  I was  received  into 
the  Boston  church.  It  is  true  that  1 had  under- 
stood through  Tbe  {Morning  Star  that  the  Free 
Baptist  Mission  Board  were  then  looking  for  a 
candidate  for  their  mission,  but  1 had  no  idea 
that  they  would  think  for  a moment  of  sending 
out  one  so  lately  received  into  the  denomination. 

“ In  the  spring  of  1839  1 had  fully  determined 
to  close  my  school  to  bury  myself  in  the  West, 
as  teacher  and  lay  preacher.  On  talking  over 
the  matter  with  Dr.  Holman,  he  urged  me  to 
take  out  a preacher’s  license  before  going  West. 
He  urged  this  so  strenuously,  insisting  that  it 
would  give  me  an  introduction  to  friends  and 
help  me  in  many  ways,  that  1 finally  consented 
that  my  name  should  be  sent  up  asking  for  a 
preacher’s  license.  1 was  ready  to  go  West  but 
consented  to  wait  a week  or  two  to  attend  this 
meeting. 

“ The  time  came  and  my  case  was  presented, 
with  the  recommendation  of  the  Boston  church. 
To  my  surprise  some  objections  were  raised. 
Bro.  Silas  Curtis  took  the  lead,  claiming  that 
as  1 had  been  teaching  in  Watertown,  a strong 
Unitarian  town,  1 should  undergo  a close  exam- 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


35 


ination,  and  that  I should  preach  before  the 
Quarterly  Meeting.  1 thought  this  a very 
strange  and  unheard-of  requirement,  and  for  a 
time  was  strongly  inclined  to  leave  the  meeting 
and  flee  to  the  West.  To  settle  my  disturbed 
mind  and  also  to  mature  my  plans,  I took  a 
stroll  into  a neighboring  pasture  (now  a densely- 
populated  part  of  Lowell).  1 was  twenty-two 
years  old,  had  never  spoken  from  a text  more 
than  once  or  twice,  and  then  to  small  companies. 
But  here  was  a large  congregation  with  a dozen 
or  more  ministers,  and  I was  required  to  preach 
before  them,  not  from  any  sense  of  duty,  or  for 
any  purpose  except  to  show  them  whether  1 
could  preach  or  not.  A most  preposterous  idea, 
surely,  for  Free-will  Baptists  ! My  feelings  rose 
in  rebellion,  but  anon  1 felt  a quiet  independence 
and  resignation,  and  1 said  to  myself : * This  is 
none  of  my  seeking,  and  I am  not  responsible.  1 
shall  soon  be  away,  and  whether  1 succeed  or 
fail,  it  will  make  but  little  difference,  and  will 
soon  be  forgotten  ; and  since  they  will  have  it 
so,  so  be  it.’  I returned  to  the  meeting,  and 
heard  the  notice  given  that  a young  brother  would 
preach  for  a license  in  the  vestry  immediately 


36 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


after  the  then  present  exercise.  The  meeting  was 
prolonged,  and  1 was  congratulating  myself  that 
as  it  was  already  late,  and  all  were  tired,  my 
congregation  would  be  very  small,  but  on  going 
to  the  vestry,  I found  it  packed,  mostly  with 
factory  girls,  and  ministers  who  were  there 
officially. 

“ With  very  little  time  for  preparation,  I took 
for  my  text  James  5:20,  — ‘He  which  converteth 
the  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  ways  shall  save  a 
soul  from  death  and  shall  hide  a multitude  of  sins.' 
1 felt  no  diffidence  and  talked  my  allotted  time 
without  embarrassment.  I had  to  put  on  the 
brakes  to  choke  out  from  my  mind  the  ridiculous 
part  1 was  forced  to  act.  Then  came  the  exam- 
ination, which  was  pronounced  satisfactory.” 

Probably  Dr.  Bacheler  could  not  have  found  a 
denomination  more  in  sympathy  with  his  anti- 
slavery convictions  than  were  the  Free  Baptists 
at  that  time.  The  fight  was  going  on  among 
them,  and  the  denomination  very  unitedly  stood 
together  against  slavery..  In  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1837  it  was  “‘Resolved,  that  slavery 
as  it  exists  in  this  country  is  a system  of 
tyranny ; of  tyranny  more  cruel  and  wicked 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


37 


than  the  oppression  and  wrong  practiced  by  any 
other  civilized  nation  in  the  known  world.”  In 
the  next  Conference  at  Conneaut,  Ohio,  in  1839, 
even  stronger  resolutions  were  passed,  setting 
forth  the  belief  that  the  antislavery  cause  was 
the  cause  of  God,  and  recommending  every 
Christian  and  Christian  minister  to  promote  its 
interests.  Dr.  William  M.  Howsley,  a licensed 
preacher  from  Kentucky,  came  to  the  Conference, 
united  with  the  church  in  Conneaut,  and  asked 
ordination  at  the  hands  of  the  Conference.  He 
acknowledged  slavery  to  be  a great  moral  evil, 
but  declined  to  give  freedom  to  slaves  that  he 
owned.  The  report  of  the  committee  on  his 
case  was  decisive  and  plain.  It  was  this:  “As 
Dr.  Howsley  claims  property  in  human  beings, 
we  cannot  ordain  him  as  a minister,  or  fellowship 
him  as  a Christian.”  This  report  was  unani- 
mously adopted.  Dr.  Howsley  claimed  to  repre- 
sent twenty  thousand  Free  Baptists  in  Kentucky. 
The  same  Conference  decided  not  to  continue 
fellowship  with  five  thousand  Free  Baptists  in 
North  and  South  Carolina  who  advocated  slavery, 
thus  decreasing  their  numbers,  and  putting  a 
barrier  against  further  growth  in  the  slave- 


38 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


holding  South  for  many  years.  But  the  Free 
Baptist  denomination  said,  “Not  quantity  but 
quality  ; let  the  church  represent  righteousness.” 
Dr.  Bacheler  was  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the 
attitude  of  this  people,  and  among  them  found 
a home. 

At  the  time  of  Dr.  Bacheler’s  examination 
for  license  Dr.  Mack,  Secretary  of  the  Free 
Baptist  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  was  search- 
ing for  a candidate  for  the  mission  field.  He 
was  present  at  the  examination,  and  requested 
the  privilege  of  asking  one  question.  Having 
permission,  he  asked,  “In  case  the  path  of 
duty  is  made  plain  would  you  be  willing  to 
become  a missionary  to  the  heathen?”  Without 
waiting  for  the  candidate  to  reply  Dr.  Holman 
answered,  “ Brother  Bacheler  has  long  cher- 
ished that  desire,  and  has  long  been  studying 
with  that  object  in  view.” 

The  candidate  was  asked  to  retire  while  the 
council  consulted.  As  he  did  so  Dr.  Mack 
followed  him,  and  in  a few  moments  learned 
his  history,  and  concerning  his  fondly  cherished 
plans.  He  was  deeply  interested  when  the 
candidate  told  him  that  he  had  been  quietly 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


39 


studying  medicine  with  the  purpose  of  becoming 
a medical  missionary,  for  the  work  of  the  mis- 
sion had  been  much  interrupted  on  account  of 
the  need  of  a medical  missionary.  Dr.  Mack 
advised  the  candidate  to  form  no  plans  until  he 
had  opportunity  to  confer  with  others,  assuring 
him  that  he  would  write  him  in  a few  days. 
Without  any  doubt,  during  those  few  moments 
in  which  these  two  men  were  together,  Dr.  Mack 
decided  that  he  had  found  the  man  for  whom  he 
was  searching.  Future  developments  show  that 
such  was  the  fact. 

At  once  the  western  plan  vanished  ; the  hori- 
zon did  not  stop  with  North  or  South  America, 
or  with  Africa  ; it  reached  out  to  the  land  of  the 
Vedas.  The  man  whose  first  mission  inspiration 
led  him  to  prepare  for  Africa  was  to  go  to  India, 
but  in  this  respect  he  was  not  unlike  many  other 
missionaries.  Judson  felt  called  to  India  but 
found  no  welcome  until  he  reached  Burmah. 
Carey  at  first  purposed  to  go  to  Tahiti,  and 
David  Livingstone  shaped  all  his  early  plans 
for  China.  In  each  case  it  was  doubtless  nec- 
essary for  these  men  to  begin  as  they  did,  for 
God  to  get  them  where  he  wanted  them. 


40 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Dr.  Bacheler  was  urged  to  supply  a little 
church  which  had  just  been  organized  at  Grafton. 
He  concluded  to  do  so,  going  the  next  Lord’s 
day.  He  supplied  here  for  several  months, 
living  at  his  father’s  during  the  week,  and 
pursuing  his  medical  studies.  Very  soon  after 
this  meeting  with  Dr.  Mack  he  received  a letter 
from  him  asking  him  to  meet  the  Mission  Board 
at  Livingstone,  Me.  He  went  as  invited,  and, 
after  an  examination,  was  appointed  a missionary 
to  India,  with  the  instruction  to  sail  on  the  first 
ship  going  from  Boston  to  Calcutta ; it  was 
uncertain  when  that  would  be.  In  the  mean- 
time he  was  advised  to  continue  his  studies. 

Up  to  this  t'me  he  had  not  confided  his  plans 
t,o  his  parents,  and  how  they  learned  of  them 
is  not  known.  Reticence  in  regard  to  one’s  self 
is  said  to  be  a prominent  Bacheler  trait.  His 
parents  did  not  oppose  his  plans,  however,  for 
which  he  was  very  thankful.  Concerning  this 
matter,  he  said : “ Being  the  youngest  and 

smallest  of  the  family,  I had  always  been 
called  ‘little  Otis,’  and  my  big,  prosperous 
brothers  told  me  1 was  a foolish  boy,  and  had 
better  stay  at  home.  One  of  them  said  1 would 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


41 


come  back  in  the  same  ship  1 went  out  in.” 
But  they  evidently  did  not  realize  the  firm  grasp 
that  God  had  upon  the  life  of  “little  Otis.” 

During  his  school-days  at  Holliston  he  became 
intimately  acquainted  with  Catharine  E.  Palmer, 
who  was  about  his  own  age.  They  boarded  at 
the  same  place,  and  had  ample  opportunity  of 
knowing  each  other.  They  had  agreed  to  try 
the  experiences  of  life  together,  and  to  be  mar- 
ried when  the  proper  time  should  come.  He  at 
once  told  her  of  the  opening  for  them  to  go  to 
India,  to  which  she  responded  at  once,  saying 
that  mission  work  had  been  much  in  her  mind, 
and  that  she  would  be  ready  to  engage  in  it, 
if  such  should  be  their  privilege. 

No  ship  was  expected  to  sail  for  Calcutta  until 
late  in  the  autumn,  so  in  August  he  entered 
Dartmouth  Medical  School  at  Hanover.  As  he 
had  supported  himself  thus  far  he  determined 
to  do  so  now.  He  must  needs  make  close  calcu- 
lations. At  Holliston  he  had  made  shoes  enough 
to  pay  his  board.  The  people  at  Grafton  had 
paid  him  six  dollars  each  Lord’s  day  for  his 
services;  with  this  he  could  pay  his  tuition, 
but  he  had  very  little  left  for  board.  He  planned 


42 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


to  hire  a room,  and  dispense  with  a bed,  making 
a quantity  of  straw  and  his  cloak  answer  to 
sleep  upon  ; but  when  he  met  the  faculty  and 
told  them  that  he  was  preparing  for  a mission 
field,  they  informed  him  that  they  took  no  fees 
from  mission  students.  This  saved  him  fifty  dol- 
lars, gave  him  the  luxury  of  a bed,  and  the 
opportunity  to  board  himself  in  a comfortable 
manner.  His  expenses  for  board  did  not  exceed 
one  dollar  per  week. 

While  at  Hanover  he  had  a preaching  expe- 
rience which  he  never  forgot,  and  which  he 
sometimes  repeated  to  others.  The  Congre- 
gational minister  at  Hartford  on  the  Vermont 
side  of  the  river  from  Hanover  was  having  a 
vacation  and  he  was  asked  to  supply  for  one 
Lord’s  day.  He  says  : — 

“ 1 walked  over  Sabbath  morning,  arriving 
just  in  time ; took  my  seat  in  the  pulpit  and  was 
selecting  my  hymns,  when  to  my  surprise  the 
minister  came  in.  I had  understood  that  he  had 
left  the  place,  but  he  had  been  delayed.  He 
was  very  kind,  offered  to  select  my  hymns,  and 
asked  for  my  text.  My  modesty  was  such  that 
1 was  completely  floored.  1 begged  him  to  take 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


43 


the  service,  but  he  would  not  hear  of  that.  1 
had  prepared  two  sermons,  supposing  there  were 
to  be  two  services.  Thinking  I could  do  better 
with  the  afternoon  one,  I dropped  the  morning 
one,  and  took  the  other.  In  a word,  I changed 
front  in  the  face  of  battle,  always  a dangerous, 
if  not  foolish  thing  to  do.  To  add  to  my  annoy- 
ance and  confusion,  some  of  my  fellow-students 
had  come  in.  1 stammered,  staggered,  and  felt 
that  if  there  had  been  a hole  in  the  pulpit  floor,  1 
would  have  slipped  through  out  of  sight.  1 wor- 
ried through  about  twenty  minutes,  then  took  my 
hat,  telling  the  minister  I must  go.  He  begged  me 
to  stay  for  the  afternoon  and  said  I had  done  very 
well,  but  I knew  better,  and  I hastened  away,  the 
first  out  of  the  house.  1 walked  quietly  till  out 
of  sight,  and  then  ran,  jumped,  and  danced  till 
1 had  covered  three  or  four  miles,  and  reached 
the  bridge  over  the  Connecticut  and  into  Han- 
over. This  raised  a serious  question  in  my 
mind  : Could  I ever  be  a preacher?  Mr.  Wood, 
the  Congregational  minister  at  Hanover,  had 
arranged  for  me  to  preach  the  next  Sabbath  at  a 
schoolhouse  over  the  mountain  on  the  Canaan 
side,  where  he  said  there  were  a few  Free 


44 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Baptist  families,  and  1 had  engaged  to  go,  so  I 
decided  to  make  this  a test.  If  1 should  fail  there 
I would  give  the  matter  up  ; if  1 should  succeed, 
then  1 would  go  on.  1 went ; had  perfect  free- 
dom and  no  embarrassment.  I went  home  feeling 
strong,  and  wishing  that  I might  have  a chance 
to  go  to  Hartford  again.  During  the  week,  to 
my  surprise  one  of  the  deacons  from  Hartford 
called  at  my  room  and  asked  me  to  take  the 
service  the  next  Sabbath.  1 responded  at  once, 
‘Yes,  most  gladly.’  The  Sabbath  came  and  I 
went  over.  This  time  I felt  strong  and  went 
prepared.  I even  wished  some  of  my  fellow- 
students  might  be  there,  but  none  came.  I 
enjoyed  it  all  and  felt  no  diffidence.  One  of  the 
deacons  invited  me  home  to  dinner,  and  asked 
me  rather  significantly,  1 thought,  if  1 was  the 
same  man  who  had  preached  to  them  two 
Sabbaths  before.  I walked  home  quietly  this 
time  and  was  very  happy.  That  was  my  first 
and  only  breakdown.  I never  was  much  of  a 
preacher,  but  have  always  been  able  to  say 
what  1 wished  to  say.” 

When  he  finished  the  medical  term  he  left 
Hanover  with  quite  a little  money  in  his  pocket, 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


45 


and  entered  the  Harvard  Medical  School,  as  its 
winter  course  of  lectures  was  then  just  about 
to  open.  The  same  advantages  were  offered 
him  there  as  at  Hanover,  namely,  no  fees  for 
lectures,  and  only  five  dollars  for  matriculation. 
He  says:  “The  Dean  received  me  kindly,  and 
only  asked  me  to  remember  the  college,  and 
send  them  some  specimens  from  India.  Poor 
man,  he  was  afterwards  hanged  for  the  murder 
of  Dr.  Parkman  ! ” 

Arrangements  must  now  be  made  for  a five 
months’  residence  in  Boston.  He  had  but  little 
money,  yet  he  did  not  lack  for  courage.  He 
engaged  a room  in  Belknap  Street,  of  a Mrs. 
Wilde,  a Christian  woman  who  occupied  a 
small  upper  tenement  with  her  two  daughters. 
He  paid  her  one  dollar  per  week  for  a small 
room,  furnished  with  a straw  bed,  a table,  and 
two  or  three  chairs.  To  this  he  added  a small 
stove,  and  felt  quite  independent.  During  these 
months  he  lived  chiefly  on  potatoes,  bread,  and 
crackers.  When  speaking  of  these  experiences, 
he  said  : “ I think  1 did  not  take  meat  while  in 
the  Medical  School  at  Harvard,  and  only  once 
while  1 was  at  Hanover.’’  His  board  while  in 


46 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Boston,  including  room  rent,  was  something  less 
than  three  dollars  a week.  One  breakfast  dish, 
exceedingly  convenient  and  a great  favorite,  was 
fried  potatoes.  He  would  boil  up  a quantity  of 
potatoes,  slice  some  of  these,  add  a little  lard 
and  salt,  sprinkle  over  them  crumbed  crackers, 
cover  up  this  mixture  in  a frying-pan  and  place 
it  on  the  stove.  This  he  could  do  in  the  evening 
before  going  to  bed  ; then  in  the  morning,  with 
kindlings  ready,  he  would  jump  out  of  bed,  start 
the  fire,  then  get  into  bed  for  a few  moments; 
when  his  room  would  be  warm,  his  breakfast 
ready,  — a breakfast  which  he  said  was  “fit 
for  a king.”  On  this  he  could  walk  a mile  or 
more  to  the  college  on  Mason  Street ; then  back 
a mile  further  to  the  Massachusetts  General 
Hospital  twice  daily,  attend  five  or  six  lectures, 
spend  an  hour  in  the  eye  infirmary  or  smallpox 
hospital,  take  notes,  and  read  up  to  follow  the 
lectures,  having  intermission  for  a piece  of  bread 
at  noonday. 

The  church  at  Grafton,  where  he  supplied 
before  going  to  Hanover,  was  again  vacant.  He 
was  in  need  of  funds,  and  he  engaged  to  supply 
there  for  the  winter,  receiving  six  dollars  each 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


47 


Lord’s  day.  Grafton  was  forty  miles  from 
Boston  ; he  could  go  to  New  England  Village  on 
the  Worcester  Railroad,  a distance  of  thirty-five 
miles,  then  walk  to  Farnumsville  on  the  Black- 
stone  River,  a distance  of  five  miles.  He  could 
leave  Boston  at  4 P.  M.,  reach  New  England 
Village  in  the  evening,  preach  twice  next  day, 
get  his  breakfast  on  Monday  morning  without 
disturbing  the  family,  walk  back  the  five  miles, 
and  at  early  dawn  meet  the  Worcester  train,  and 
reach  Boston  at  ten  o’clock,  losing  only  two 
lectures.  After  paying  carfare  he  had  left  about 
four  dollars  a week. 

As  a medical  student  he  took  up  dentistry, 
giving  special  attention  to  filling  teeth.  This 
gave  him  work  occasionally,  and  added  a little 
to  his  resources.  With  so  much  work  during 
the  short  winter  days  he  found  it  impossible  to 
keep  awake  and  study  through  the  evening,  but 
he  could  not  be  idle ; consequently  he  arranged 
with  his  brother  William  to  buy  him  a case  of 
shoes  ready  for  bottoming,  and  found  a shoe  shop 
near  by  with  a spare  bench  and  one  man  at 
work,  who  was  glad  to  give  him  use  of  the  shop 
for  his  company.  Here  at  his  old  trade  he 


48 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


spent  his  evenings,  keeping  himself  awake,  and 
earning  a little  more  money.  With  these  helps 
he  was  able  to  pay  his  expenses,  and  purchase  a 
new  coat,  the  first  that  he  had  for  years,  for 
he  had  long  patronized  the  second-hand  clothing 
stores  on  Brattle  Street,  when  he  was  obliged 
to  replenish  his  wardrobe.  He  rarely  indulged 
in  a new  article  of  any  kind.  When  relating 
these  experiences  in  later  life  he  says  : — 
“When  1 recur  to  this  after  more  than  fifty- 
five  years,  with  what  I have  observed  of  student 
life,  and  of  different  plans  for  securing  an 
education,  the  question  arises.  Was  all  this  nec- 
essary in  my  case?  To  which  1 reply  that  my 
spirit  of  independence  was  unconquerable,  and 
though  my  older  brothers  were  thriving  business 
men  with  ample  means,  and,  if  1 asked,  would, 
I presume,  have  helped  me,  yet  1 could  never 
ask  for  help,  and  certainly  I should  never  have 
accepted  it  if  it  had  been  proffered.  1 preferred 
to  enter  upon  the  active  duties  of  life  with  a 
limited  education,  without  aid  from  others, 
trusting  to  habits  of  study  to  make  up  the 
deficiency  afterwards,  rather  than  to  take  a 
higher  course  at  the  expense  of  others.  This 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


49 


may  have  been  the  offspring  of  pride,  but  i 
could  not  do  otherwise.” 

We  have  been  especially  particular  to  men- 
tion these  facts  concerning  that  heroic  struggle 
for  an  education,  not  only  because  it  is  due  him 
that  this  be  done,  but  also  that  they  may  become 
an  encouragement  to  others  engaged  in  the 
same  struggle.  No  young  man  can  read  these 
experiences  in  the  early  life  of  our  sainted  mis- 
sionary, whatever  difficulties  he  may  encounter, 
without  gaining  great  courage  and  inspiration, 
and  feeling  ashamed  to  give  up  the  struggle, 
plainly  seeing  that  God  helps  those  who  help 
themselves. 

Of  Allen  Gardiner,  the  founder  of  the  Pata- 
gonian mission,  it  is  related  ’that  when  he  said 
“yes  ” to  his  divine  call  to  become  a missionary, 
he  disciplined  himself  for  the  work  before  him  in 
many  ways,  one  of  which  was  to  sleep  upon  the 
bare  floor.  Our  prospective  missionary  found 
plenty  of  rugged  discipline  all  through  his 
preparation  which  well  fitted  him  for  the  jungle 
and  mountain  wilds  of  Bengal  and  Orissa.  He 
regarded  these  experiences  as  friends,  and  used 
them  as  such.  He  says:  — 


50 


LlfrE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


“ Tiierewas  one  incident  connected  with  my  life 
in  Boston  that  I have  often  boasted  of,  in  reprov- 
ing our  India  native  preachers,  when  they  have 
complained  of  the  hardships  they  had  to  endure 
in  walking  a few  miles  in  prosecuting  their  work. 
1 have  mentioned  that  1 was  supplying  every 
Sabbath  at  Grafton.  As  1 was  not  ordained 
the  people  wished  for  an  exchange  in  order 
that  they  might  have  communion.  On  Saturday 
afternoon  1 received  a letter  informing  me  that 
arrangements  had  been  made  with  the  minister 
of  Woonsocket,  R.  I.,  to  administer  to  them  the 
sacrament  the  next  Sabbath,  and  1 must  supply 
his  place.  1 immediately  looked  about  to  find 
by  what  means  1 could  reach  Woonsocket  for 
the  morning  service  next  day.  There  were  no 
railroads  or  stage  routes  in  that  direction  then, 
so  1 very  soon  marked  out  a plan  which  1 was 
sure  1 could  accomplish.  1 took  the  train  at 
4 P.  M.  for  Framingham,  twenty  miles  ; then  a 
walk  of  five  miles  brought  me  to  my  father’s 
in  Holliston.  My  mother  was  taken  quite  by 
surprise  as  1 emerged  from  the  darkness  into  her 
quiet  sitting-room.  She  hastily  prepared  me  a 
little  supper,  and  in  half  an  hour  or  so  I was 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


51 


again  on  the  road.  A walk  of  ten  miles  brought 
me  to  Mendon,  where  1 slept  for  the  night  in  a 
wayside  inn.  By  sunrise  or  before  I was  again 
on  the  road,  and  a walk  of  eight  miles  brought 
me  into  Woonsocket.  The  parsonage  was  a 
mile  farther  on  at  Blackstone.  Thither  I went 
and  got  my  breakfast,  then  back  to  the  church. 
After  preaching  twice,  one  of  the  brethren 
invited  me  home  to  a late  dinner,  after  which  I 
began  my  homeward  journey.  I walked  back  to 
my  father’s  that  evening,  eighteen  miles,  and 
most  of  the  time  it  was  raining.  My  mother 
was  more  surprised  to  see  me  than  on  the  evening 
before,  as  it  was  late,  nearly  bedtime.  My  cloak 
was  wet  and  it  took  some  time  to  dry  it,  so 
I was  not  off  very  early  the  next  morning.  I 
thought  1 would  sacrifice  a little  in  time,  and 
save  my  railroad  fare,  so  after  breakfast  I took 
the  road  again,  and  walked  to  Newton,  sixteen 
miles.  My  brother  Frederick  was  in  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  the  time,  and  I was  glad 
to  sleep  with  him  for  a night  in  the  Seminary. 
That  was  the  nearest  I ever  came  to  a theological 
education,  which,  by  the  way,  1 have  never 
regretted.  The  next  morning  I was  up  early 


52 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  off  to  Boston,  eight  miles.  1 was  in  season 
for  the  first  lecture  of  Tuesday  morning.  1 had 
travelled  eighty-seven  miles  in  filling  that  appoint- 
ment, sixty-seven  of  which  1 had  walked.  1 
never  thought  this  worth  mentioning,  it  was  all 
done  so  easily,  till  1 came  in  contact  with  the 
native  preachers  in  India,  who  seemed  to  think 
a walk  of  ten  or  twenty  miles  was  hard  lines  ; 
then  1 began  to  think  that  1 had  really  done 
something  worth  telling.” 

In  the  spring  of  1840  the  new  ship  General 
Harrison  was  chartered  to  take  a cargo  of  ice  to 
Calcutta,  and  passage  was  engaged  on  her  for 
three  missionaries,  Otis  R.  Bacheler,  Miss  Cath- 
arine E.  Palmer  (soon  to  be  Mrs.  Bacheler),  and 
Miss  Hannah  Cummings.  Preparations  were 
speedily  made,  but  much  had  to  be  done.  Ocean 
voyages  were  different  then  from  what  they  now 
are  ; travellers  must  go  all  the  way  by  a sailing 
vessel,  and  the  voyage  would  take  four  months 
at  least.  They  must  take  a large  amount  of 
clothing  and  considerable  furniture.  Benjamin 
Bacheler,  a brother  of  Otis,  loaned  him  fifty 
dollars  for  the  purchase  of  surgical  instruments, 
which,  with  a little  added  from  his  own  scanty 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


53 


means,  gave  him  a very  fair  outfit.  The  Mission 
Board  appropriated  seventy  dollars  for  medicines, 
which  afforded  him  a good  supply  for  a year  or 
more.  He  had  accumulated  some  books  and 
added  a few  more  from  the  outfit  allowance. 

March  7,  1840,  was  the  date  fixed  for  the 
ordination  of  Brother  Bacheler  “ as  an  evangelist 
to  join  our  mission  in  Hindustan.”  It  was  to 
occur  in  the  Free  Baptist  church  at  Lowell, 
Mass.,  and  Rev.  Martin  Cheney,  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  was  to  preach  the  sermon.  The  announce- 
ment was  made  accordingly.  The  people  gath- 
ered at  the  appointed  place.  The  afternoon  was 
spent  in  fasting  and  prayer,  and  a large  degree 
of  the  divine  presence  was  manifest.  In  the 
evening  the  house  was  filled  ; the  exercises  were 
very  solemn  and  interesting.  The  following  is 
the  program  as  recorded  : — 

1.  Invocation  by  N.  Thurston. 

2.  Anthem  by  the  choir. 

3.  Reading  Scripture  by  A.  Caverno. 

4.  Prayer  by  B.  Phelon. 

5.  Singing  hymn  661  (“Christian  Melody  ”). 

6.  Sermon  by  M.  Cheney. 

7.  Ordaining  prayer  by  S.  Curtis. 


54 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


8.  Charge  by  D.  P.  Cilley. 

9.  Right  hand  of  fellowship  by  B.  Phelon. 

10.  Hymn  664  (“Christian  Melody”). 

11.  Address  to  the  missionaries  by  E.  Mack. 

12.  Address  to  the  congregation  by  J.  W. 
Holman. 

13.  Collection. 

14.  Original  hymn  by  a lady  of  Lowell. 

15.  Benediction  by  the  candidate. 

Martin  Cheney’s  sermon  was  preached  from 
the  text,  “Go  ye,”  etc.  Miss  Palmer  and  Miss 
Cummings  were  also  set  apart  for  mission  work 
at  this  meeting.  When  the  corresponding  secre- 
tary gave  his  hand  to  the  three  missionaries, 
the  great  congregation  rose  spontaneously,  thus 
manifesting  their  interest  and  sympathy. 

On  extending  to  Mr.  Bacheler  the  hand  of 
fellowship,  Mr.  Phelon  made  lengthy  remarks 
upon  several  reasons  which  the  people  had  for 
respecting  him.  He  said  : — 

“First,  as  a man  we  respect  you.”  He  here 
spoke  of  his  industry,  economy,  and  self-reliance. 
“ Secondly,  we  respect  you  as  a Christian,”  espe- 
cially emphasizing  hisdevotional  spirit.  “Thirdly, 
we  respect  you  as  a minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


55 


Fourthly,  we  respect  you  because  you  are  destined 
for  Orissa  in  Hindustan,  the  land  of  darkness. 
Fifthly,  and  lastly,  we  respect  you  and  fellowship 
you  because  you  are  going  to  the  land  of  dark- 
ness, to  do  good  to  the  souls  of  men.  You  will 
benefit  the  body,  so  did  Christ ; but  it  was  for 
their  souls  that  he  died.” 

This  extract  shows  to  some  extent  in  what 
high  esteem  Brother  Bacheler  was  held  by  those 
who  knew  him.  We  believe  that  it  was  but  a 
feeble  portrayal  of  his  real  virtues. 

But  other  important  preparations  were  to  be 
made  ; another  event  of  great  interest  was  at 
hand.  Upon  the  day  following  the  ordination  — 
the  8th  of  May,  1840  — the  marriage  of  Otis  R. 
Bacheler  and  Catharine  E.  Palmer  occurred.  It 
was  a very  quiet  occasion  ; no  outside  guests 
were  present,  for  duties  connected  with  prepa- 
ration for  their  departure  left  neither  time  nor 
strength  for  the  formalities  customary  at  such 
occasions.  On  the  morning  of  the  10th,  the 
second  day  after  their  marriage,  they  went  on 
board  the  ship.  A large  company  gathered  to 
see  them  off,  among  whom  were  Mrs.  Bacheler’s 
father  and  mother,  brother  and  sisters,  several 


56 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


members  of  Mr.  Bacheler’s  family,  brothers  and 
sisters  from  their  own  and  neighboring  churches, 
and  many  unknown  to  them.  At  this  time  both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler  were  members  of  the 
Second  Free  Baptist  Church  in  Boston.  At  the 
wharf  there  were  services  conducted  by  Dr. 
Mack.  “ From  Greenland’s  Icy  Mountains  ” was 
sung,  a prayer  in  which  the  missionaries  were 
committed  to  the  care  of  God  the  Father  was 
offered  ; then  “All  ashore,  going  ashore,’’  and  the 
ship,  loosed  from  her  moorings,  swung  out  into 
the  channel.  The  band  at  the  Charlestown  Navy 
Yard,  where  these  events  had  been  closely 
watched,  then  began  to  play  “ Home,  Sweet 
Home,’’  the  last  audible  utterance  from  native 
land.  Slowly  they  floated  with  the  tide  down  the 
harbor  ; slowly  the  crowd  on  the  wharf  diminished 
and  faded  out  until  only  a few  family  friends  re- 
mained, waving  their  handkerchiefs.  It  was  a joy- 
ful, sad  time.  The  friends  on  the  wharf  were 
deeply  affected  at  the  parting.  No  one  but 
those  who  have  experienced  it  know  the  intense, 
peculiar  heart-longing  of  those  who  are  leaving 
their  native  land.  And  yet  under  those  circum- 
stances, with  the  band  playing  that  most 


CHANGE  IN  CHURCH  RELATIONS 


57 


touching  of  airs,  with  a long,  disagreeable  voyage 
before  them,  it  was  so  much  a joyful  time  to 
the  missionaries  that  “ on  their  part,  no  tears 
were  shed  ” ; the  day  long  prayed  for,  long  looked 
for,  had  come ; they  had  indeed  begun  the  long 
journey  to  the  land  and  people  which  God  had 
made  dearer  to  them  than  their  own  lives. 

And  now  since  we  have  been  introduced  to 
Mrs.  Bacheler,  the  wife  of  our  missionary,  whose 
life  we  are  especially  called  upon  to  record, 
herself  a missionary  thoroughly  possessed  of  the 
mission  spirit,  and  one  with  her  husband  in 
devotion,  zeal,  and  self-denial,  so  long  as  life 
lasted,  it  is  well  for  us  to  know  something  of  her 
previous  life.  Catharine  Elizabeth  Palmer  was 
born  in  West  Roxbury,  Mass.,  in  1816.  Her 
father  was  a well-to-do  farmer,  owning  and 
tilling  an  excellent  farm,  carrying  his  produce  to 
the  Boston  market.  Her  mother  was  a prudent, 
hard-working  woman.  Both  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church  at  Newton  Upper 
Falls.  She  had  three  brothers  and  three  sisters, 
William,  Charlotte,  Lavina,  Thomas,  George, 
and  Caroline.  In  1895  all  of  them  were  residing 
in  California.  Catharine  was  next  to  the  oldest. 


58 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


She  had  some  experience  in  district  school  teach- 
ing, having  for  those  times  a good  English 
education.  She  also  learned  dressmaking  and 
millinery.  In  1837  she  went  to  Holliston  and 
established  a business  for  herself.  Here  she  and 
her  future  husband  became  acquainted  with  and 
interested  in  each  other. 

Early  in  life  she  confessed  Christ  and  united 
with  the  church  of  which  her  parents  were 
members.  A few  weeks  before  her  marriage 
and  start  for  India  she  changed  her  church  mem- 
bership to  the  Second  Free  Baptist  Church  of 
Boston,  of  which  Rev.  Benjamin  Phelon  was 
pastor,  by  whom  she  was  immersed,  her  former 
Methodist  pastor  being  opposed  to  this  form  of 
baptism.  Mrs.  Bacheler  was  a faithful  and  noble 
woman,  with  a devotion  to  mission  work  equal 
to  that  of  her  husband,  and  in  this  work  so  dear 
to  her  she  early  surrendered  her  life. 

With  happy  anticipations  these  two  young 
people  set  out,  beginning  their  life  together, 
ambassadors  to  “ the  regions  beyond.” 


CHAPTER  III 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL  — SICKNESS  — 
GETTING  TO  WORK  — MEDICAL 
DEPARTMENT 

Sea  voyages  were  not  as  comfortable  and 
inviting  in  those  days  as  at  the  present  time. 
Then  our  missionaries  must  make  the  trip  to 
India  in  a sailing  vessel,  a freighter  with  few  and 
poor  accommodations  for  passengers.  The  Gen- 
eral Harrison  had  but  one  vacant  stateroom, 
and,  of  course,  Miss  Cummings  was  justly 
entitled  to  that.  For  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler  a 
temporary  room  was  made  between  decks  open- 
ing out  of  the  after  cabin,  the  only  light  for 
which  was  a glass  sunk  in  the  deck  about  ten 
inches  by  four,  except  when  the  door  into  the 
cabin  was  open.  Captain  Bullard  was  in  com- 
mand, a young  man,  but  an  excellent  seaman. 

The  bill  of  fare  was  very  different  from  that 
furnished  on  a ship  of  the  American  Line  or  a 
“ P and  O ” steamship  to-day.  For  the  first  two 
weeks  they  had  potatoes,  afterwards  hard  bis- 
cuit to  the  end  of  the  voyage.  The  biscuit  was 


60 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


wet  with  hot  water  and  buttered  for  breakfast, 
the  same  for  supper.  Salt  beef  and  pork  were 
always  on  the  table,  and  this  with  “ hard  tack,” 
and  something  in  the  shape  of  a soft  pudding, 
constituted  dinner.  On  Lord’s  day  dinner  was 
a little  more  pretentious,  when  a plum  pudding, 
an  institution  of  the  sea  which  the  sailors  called 
“duff,”  was  brought  on.  With  this  meal  some 
raisins  were  usually  supplied  for  dessert.  While 
a scanty  stock  lasted,  roast  pork  and  fowl  helped 
to  make  a very  enjoyable  dinner.  The  ship  and 
her  water-casks  were  new,  consequently  the 
water  soon  became  putrid,  and  every  mixture 
prepared  to  remedy  it  failed.  Once  or  twice  the 
steward  attempted  to  make  bread,  but  gave  it 
up  as  a bad  job.  And  yet  our  missionaries 
kept  hearty  and  healthy  on  this  fare. 

Time  was  not  heavy  on  their  hands ; they 
could  plan,  and  watch  the  ever-changing  sea. 
Now  there  was  a whale  in  sight,  then  a school  of 
porpoises  to  vary  the  monotony.  At  night  the 
stars  were  a delightful  study.  Every  Lord’s 
day,  when  the  weather  permitted,  Captain 
Bullard  arranged  to  have  religious  services  on 
deck.  The  missionaries  were  privileged  to  con- 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


61 


duct  these  meetings , and  all  on  board  were 
cordially  invited  to  attend.  On  these  occasions 
God  seemed  very  near.  They  were  profitable 
— to  what  extent  He  only  knows.  Any  oppor- 
tunity for  helpful  conversation  with  the  sailors 
was  not  overlooked,  and  such  opportunities  fre- 
quently occurred,  which  with  the  rest  of  the 
world  so  far  away,  and  God’s  omnipotence 
constantly  suggested,  made  it  one  of  the  best 
places  to  be  found  for  that  purpose. 

Dr.  Bacheler  found  it  necessary  to  study, 
arrange,  and  to  some  extent  compound  his 
medicines  for  future  use.  To  one  of  the  sailors 
his  medicine-chest  was  quite  a curiosity,  a fact 
to  which  the  Doctor  sometimes  referred  with 
considerable  merriment.  He  said  concerning  it: — 

“ One  of  the  sailors,  a West  India  negro, 
had  the  idea  that  with  so  much  medicine  I 
could  not  only  cure  disease,  but  that  by  judicious 
treatment  any  disease  that  flesh  is  heir  to  might 
be  prevented.  So  he  would  think  up,  as  far  as 
his  limited  knowledge  would  allow,  such  and 
such  diseases  as  he  might  possibly  be  subject 
to  in  the  future,  and  come  to  me  for  the  antici- 
patory treatment.  His  continued  calls  annoyed 


62 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


me  and  1 mentioned  it  to  the  captain.  He  said, 
'Send  him  to  me  when  he  comes  again.’  He 
soon  came,  and  I told  him  the  captain  had  the 
medicine  for  him.  Soon  after  he  was  seen 
prostrate  on  deck,  and  violently  engaged  in 
that  exercise  which  reminds  one  of  an  ancient 
prophet.  He  troubled  me  no  more.  One  dose 
of  lobelia  cured  him  of  all  desire  for  medicine.” 

Excepting  one  sad  occurrence  the  voyage 
was  pleasant  and  quite  uneventful.  During  a 
heavy  gale  a boy  seventeen  or  eighteen  years 
old  fell  from  aloft  and  was  lost.  It  was  his  first 
voyage.  He  carelessly  went  to  his  work  with 
a heavy  pea-jacket  on,  and  lost  his  hold.  An 
attempt  to  lower  a boat  failed,  and  he  found 
his  grave  in  the  wide,  deep  sea.  This  event 
cast  a gloom  over  all  on  board. 

After  one  hundred  and  ten  days,  in  which 
they  had  seen  nothing  shorelike  except  the 
uninhabited  rocks  in  the  south  Atlantic,  they 
beheld  the  black  pagoda,  and  then  the  temple 
of  Jagurnath,  on  the  coast  of  Orissa.  Calcutta 
was  not  far  away,  and  upon  reaching  it  they 
were  met  by  Mr.  Noyes,  one  of  our  first  mis- 
sionaries. Here  they  spent  two  weeks,  being 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


63 


entertained  in  the  kind,  Christian  family  of 
Mr.  Biss.  They  secured  passage  to  Balasore  on 
a small  coasting  schooner,  expecting  to  make 
this  voyage  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in 
three  days;  but  instead  it  occupied  thirteen. 
With  an  extra  supply  of  biscuit  they  managed 
to  subsist.  It  was  in  the  month  of  October ; 
the  weather  was  fair  with  no  wind,  the  drinking 
water  was  almost  putrid,  mosquitoes  were  large 
and  ravenous,  the  nearly  vertical  sun  made 
the  day  intensely  hot,  the  nights  were  damp. 
Having  to  sleep  on  deck  under  the  open  sky 
they  laid  the  foundation  for  fever,  which  devel- 
oped after  they  arrived  at  Balasore,  and  nearly 
proved  fatal  to  Mrs.  Bacheler.  Only  through 
sad  experiences  have  missionaries  learned  that 
undue  exposure  and  lack  of  care  before  they 
became  acclimated  have  shortened  the  time  of 
service  and  even  the  lives  of  many  of  their 
number. 

After  thirteen  days,  — in  which  time  a trip 
can  now  be  made  from  New  York  to  Liverpool 
and  return, — they  anchored  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Balasore  River,  at  noon,  on  an  ebb  tide, 
under  a tropical  sun.  Even  now  we  see  them  — 


64 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Rev.  Eli  Noyes,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler,  and 
Hannah  Cummings  — landing  on  the  sandy 
shore,  walking  three  miles  through  sand  and 
occasional  pools  of  water  to  the  Chandipore 
bungalow,  a European  seaside  house ; there 
remaining  until  late  in  the  evening  without 
food,  water,  or  light,  Mrs.  Bacheler  and  Miss 
Cummings  enduring  the  discomfortures  within, 
while  Dr.  Bacheler  tramps  the  veranda  contin- 
uously, humming  snatches  of  an  old  and  dolorous 
hymn,  which  Mrs  Hannah  Cummings  Phillips 
would  rather  not  hear  sung,  even  to  this  day. 

From  a far-off  country  they  came,  impelled 
by  a burning  love  for  the  souls  of  their  fellow- 
men  in  this  strange  land,  not  only  because  some 
centuries  back  they  had  a common  ancestry, 
but  more  because  they  had  a common  Saviour 
who  had  said  to  His  disciples,  “ Go  ye  into 
all  the  world,  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
creature.”  All  of  this  little  band  excepting 
Hannah  Cummings  Phillips  have  joined  that 
great  company  of  those  who  have  finished  their 
earthly  toils. 

At  9 P.  M.  conveyances  arrived  and  they  took 
up  their  slow  march  toward  Balasore,  a distance 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


65 


of  eight  miles,  arriving  there  at  midnight.  Bala- 
sore  had  been  occupied  by  our  missionaries  for 
two  years,  and  here  Dr.  Bacheler  was  to  begin 
his  work  for  India.  It  was  then  a small  town  of 
about  15,000  inhabitants.  Rev.  Eli  Noyes  was 
the  missionary  in  charge,  but  hardships  and 
fever  had  so  impaired  his  health  that  he  was 
then  able  to  do  but  little,  and  was  obliged  to 
leave  the  country  very  soon.  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
Noyes  had  a boarding  school  for  girls  and  boys 
numbering  about  forty ; they  also  had  the 
nucleus  of  a church  numbering  seven.  A small 
house,  vacated  a few  months  before,  was  for 
sale,  and  Dr.  Bacheler  purchased  it  for  $300. 

These  workers,  eager  to  talk  to  the  heathen, 
found  themselves  tongue-tied.  They  must  learn 
new  languages  and  this  they  set  themselves 
about  at  once.  Together  with  the  study  of  the 
language  Dr.  Bacheler  looked  after  the  construc- 
tion of  new  houses  for  the  children.  These 
children  in  the  boarding  school  were  orphans, 
brought  in  from  a severe  famine  the  year  before, 
and  they  had  to  be  fed,  clothed,  and  trained. 
Mrs.  Bacheler  entered  into  the  work  with  inter- 
est. As  soon  as  she  could  make  herself  under- 


66 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


stood  she  took  charge  of  the  larger  girls,  taking 
them  to  her  own  room,  where  she  taught  them 
not  only  the  rudiments  of  the  language  but  also 
to  sew,  knit,  and  do  domestic  work.  This  she 
continued  year  after  year  with  unflagging 
devotion. 

Together  with  learning  the  language  the  new 
missionary  can  make  himself  very  useful  in 
building  and  repairing  houses,  looking  after  the 
food  supply,  and  holding  a limited  conversation 
with  the  natives.  Dr.  Bacheler  spent  fully  six 
hours  of  the  day  in  the  study  of  Oriya  in  connec- 
tion with  the  cognate  languages  of  India.  In 
speaking  of  this  he  says,  “ My  progress  was  not 
rapid.”  Every  evening  he  accompanied  a native 
preacher  into  the  town  where  he  preached, 
always  having  good  congregations.  There  were 
at  that  time  in  the  station  two  very  acceptable 
preachers,  one  from  the  General  Baptist  Mission 
at  Cuttack,  and  the  other  an  old  man  converted 
at  Balasore  not  long  before  this  time,  so  that 
they  were  able  to  keep  up  regular  bazaar  preach- 
ing, a work  which  has  always  distinguished  our 
mission.  During  the  months  of  the  cold  season, 
from  November  to  February  inclusive,  he  joined 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


67 


in  the  tent  work,  moving  from  village  to  village 
every  few  days.  This  has  been  another  dis- 
tinguishing work  throughout  the  history  of  the 
mission,  and  it  has  been  very  profitable  to  the 
natives  and  interesting  to  the  missionary  and 
native  preacher.  Dr.  Bacheler  at  first  went 
with  these  two  efficient  native  preachers  and 
others  who  could  well  occupy  the  preaching 
time,  wisely  declining  to  speak  publicly  until 
he  had  been  in  the  country  a year  and  a half. 
Bazaar  preaching  was  a work  fondly  cherished 
by  Dr.  Bacheler.  He  regarded  it  as  one  of  the 
most  important  branches  of  the  mission  effort, 
and  when  upon  his  return  to  India  after  his 
first  furlough  to  America  he  located  at  Midnapore 
he  at  once  fitted  up  a stand  in  the  city,  under  a 
tree,  where  every  night  at  about  sunset  the 
gospel  might  be  heard.  When  at  home  he  was 
usually  there  himself  with  students  and  native 
preachers,  surrounded  by  a motley  crowd  easily 
brought  together,  and  when  he  was  not  there 
other  missionaries  took  his  place.  What  a sacred 
place  this  seemed  to  us  as  we  were  permitted  to 
stand  upon  that  same  platform  when  in  India, 
and  tell  the  listeners  of  Jesus  Christ,  having  that 


68 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


most  intelligent  and  consecrated  man  of  God, 
Sachidananda  Rai,  to  interpret  for  us.  To-day 
preaching  is  kept  up  at  that  place  — “School 
Bazaar  ” ; to-day  the  spot  is  fragant  with  tender 
memories  of  Dr.  Bacheler,  and  during  his  last 
years  in  this  country,  even  until  he  died,  they 
tell  us  that  when  the  men  came  to  that  place  to 
listen  they  frequently  inquired  for  him  whom 
they  so  truly  loved.  To  many  of  them  he 
seemed  as  Moses  did  to  the  Israelites.  But  we 
shall  speak  of  both  bazaar  and  cold-season  work 
at  greater  length  further  on. 

When  Dr.  Bacheler  and  his  party  reached 
India  we  had  three  missionaries  in  the  field  to 
welcome  them,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Eli  Noyes  and 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Phillips,  the  first  two  at  Balasore, 
and  the  last  at  Jellasore,  twenty-eight  miles 
away.  Of  these  fellow-laborers  we  will  let 
Dr.  Bacheler  speak  himself,  and  express  his 
estimate.  He  says  : — 

“Arriving  at  Balasore,  October,  1840,  1 found 
two  missionaries,  Rev.  Eli  Noyes  and  wife,  who 
had  been  there  about  two  years.  He  was  about 
twenty-eight  years  of  age,  and  had  been  in  India 
four  years.  He  was  a remarkable  man,  with  only 


OLD  SCHOOL  BAZAAR,  MIDNAPORE.  DR.  BACHELER’S  FAVORITE  PREACHING  STAND. 


70 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


a district  school  education,  but  he  was  a natural 
scholar,  and  a very  able  preacher.  He  made 
great  proficiency  in  the  language,  and  after  his 
return  to  America,  became  somewhat  distin- 
guished as  a Hebrew  teacher,  and  also  published 
a Hebrew  Grammar  which  was  a valuable  help 
to  beginners.  He  was  an  excellent  missionary, 
laid  out  work  well,  and  prosecuted  it  persistently. 
His  social  qualities  were  of  a superior  order,  and 
he  was  a great  favorite  with  the  natives.  Mrs. 
Noyes  also  was  an  excellent  worker.  Brother 
Noyes  had  suffered  some  months  from  dysentery, 
and  soon  after  our  arrival  returned  home. 

“ Jeremiah  Phillips,  about  the  same  age,  had 
been  colaborer  with  Brother  Noyes  in  Sumbul- 
pore,  where  he  had  buried  a wife  and  child  under 
painful  circumstances.  On  account  of  the  bad 
climate  they  had  been  transferred  to  Balasore, 
and  a few  months  before  our  arrival  Brother 
Phillips  had  opened  a new  station  at  J'ellasore, 
twenty-eight  miles  north  of  Balasore.  He  had 
buried  a second  wife.  Afterward  he  married  our 
fellow-passenger,  Hannah  Cummings.  His  twin 
boys,  James  and  John,  were  about  a year  old 
when  we  arrived.  James  became  the  dis- 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


71 


tinguished  J.  L.  Phillips,  M.  D.,  D.  D.,  who 
devoted  his  life  to  mission  work  in  India.  Brother 
Phillips  and  I were  very  intimate  coworkers 
for  many  years,  and  we  grew  elderly  together. 
He,  too,  was  a remarkable  man.  Brought  up  on 
a farm,  with  limited  education,  with  no  unusual 
ability  according  to  the  world’s  judgment,  he 
accomplished  a great  work  by  mere  plodding 
perseverance.  He  was  eminently  a good  man, 
and  his  earthly  record  without  a spot.  We  two 
were  alone  in  the  mission  for  six  years.  J.  C. 
Dow  and  Ruel  Cooley  came  later,  the  former 
remaining  only  three  or  four  years,  when  broken 
health  compelled  him  to  come  home.  The  latter 
took  charge  of  my  work  at  Balasore  when  we 
were  compelled  to  leave  India,  the  last  of  1851.” 
Some  extracts  from  letters  written  by  him  to 
the  Home  Secretary  concerning  this  first  voyage, 
and  the  condition  of  things  at  the  stations,  may 
be  of  interest.  From  one  dated  Balasore,  India, 
Nov.  6,  1840,  we  cull  the  following  : — 

DEAR  BROTHER  MACK:  — 

Your  letters  byway  of  England,  of  July  17th,  arrived 
here  Oct.  28th.  We  had  a very  pleasant  and  prosperous 
voyage  of  1 1 3 days  from  pilot  to  pilot,  and  119  to  Cal- 
cutta, being  about  a week  in  passing  up  the  Hooghly. 


72 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Our  health  during  the  passage  was  very  good,  our  sea- 
sickness lasting  but  three  or  four  days.  During  the 
remainder  of  the  voyage  we  generally  enjoyed  the  most 
perfect  health.  Our  passage  to  the  Cape  was  very  long, — 
seventy-six  days  ; the  winds  were  light  and  baffling  ; we 
had  nearly  three  weeks  of  perfect  calm.  But  our  passage 
from  the  Cape  to  Calcutta  was  quick  and  prosperous. 
Aug.  ioth,  after  passing  the  Cape,  having  rather  rough 
weather,  a heavy  sea  came  on  board,  throwing  our  ship 
on  to  one  side  so  violently  that  ten  or  twelve  bales  of 
cotton  cloth  were  dashed  with  great  force  into  our  state- 
room, crushing  our  table,  boxes,  etc.,  but  fortunately 
doing  but  little  essential  damage.  We  considered  it  very 
providential  that  we  were  absent  at  the  time,  for  had  we 
been  there  we  might  h^ve  been  severely  injured.  Soon 
after  this  we  came  into  calmer  weather,  and  enjoyed  a 
delightful  passage  up  the  bay. 

After  speaking  of  the  delay  in  Calcutta,  and 
describing  the  disagreeable  voyage  in  the  dirty, 
poorly-managed  schooner  from  Calcutta  to  Bala- 
sore,  and  the  consequent  sickness,  he  says  : — 

Brother  Phillips  came  down  to  Balasore  to  meet  us 
on  our  arrival,  and  remained  with  us  several  days,  and 
during  our  illness  assisted  us  not  a little.  Although  late 
at  night  when  we  arrived  we  found  Prasuram  and  several 
of  the  native  Christians  up  to  receive  us.  He  welcomed 
us  with  a warm  and  affectionate  heart.  He  is  indeed  a 
valuable  assistant  in  our  mission,  a man  of  very  prepos- 
sessing appearance,  with  a countenance  indicating  great 
mental  activity,  possessing  the  fiery  look  of  a great 
orator,  combined  with  a considerable  share  of  mirthfulness 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


73 


and  benevolence.  I have  not  seen  a man  in  the  country 
with  a more  intellectual  appearance  than  Prasuram.  Bala- 
sore  appears  to  be  an  unusually  fine  station  for  India, 
although  like  most  other  parts  of  the  country  it  must  be 
subject  to  intermittent  fever.  It  is  said  that  there  is  not  so 
much  as  a single  hill  m the  province  of  Bengal,  and  the 
whole  province  is  alluvial ; the  soil  of  Balasore  appears  to 
be  diluvial,  and  we  have  high  mountains  within  ten  miles. 
Then  we  are  but  six  miles  from  the  sea,  so  that  on  one 
hand  we  have  fine  mountain  air,  and  on  the  other  the 
cooling  breezes  of  the  ocean.  The  mission  appears  to  be 
prospering.  The  first  Sabbath  of  the  present  month  was 
a very  interesting  day. 

Nov.  17th.  Three  days  since  my  dear  wife,  who  has 
been  ill  for  a time,  of  renal  inflammation,  with  slight 
attacks  of  fever,  became  afflicted  with  inflammation  of  the 
brain,  so  that  for  three  or  four  days  we  all  despaired  of 
her  life.  But  “ prayer  was  made  of  the  church  for  her,” 
and,  thanks  be  to  God,  prayer  has  been  answered.  She  is 
now  decidedly  better.  There  are  now  no  marks  of  active 
disease  about  her.  We  have  every  reason  to  hope  that 
she  will  be  well.  1 have  deferred  sending  this  till  the  last 
moment  on  her  account.  I hope  it  will  reach  you  in 
good  time. 

Yours  as  ever, 

O.  R.  BACHELER. 


We  insert  a portion  of  the  next  letter  which 
follows,  for  the  sake  of  what  is  said  concerning 
the  recovery  of  Mrs.  Bacheler,  and  for  the  report 
of  the  mission  work  at  this  time. 


74 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


COOROOMA,  15  m.S.  E.  of  Balasore, 
Dec.  9,  1840. 

Dear  brother  Mack:— 

When  I wrote  you  last  Mrs.  Bacheler  was  dangerously 
ill.  I am  now  happy  to  say  that  in  two  weeks  from  the 
time  that  we  despaired  of  her  life,  she  was  so  far  recov- 
ered that  I was  able  to  leave  her  and  go  into  the  country 
with  Brother  Noyes.  Her  disease  was  chronic  nephritis, 
complicated  with  slow  fever,  which  finally  resulted  in 
effusion  on  the  brain.  The  difficulty  was  probably 
induced  first  by  exposure  on  the  voyage  from  Calcutta 
to  Balasore,  and  afterward  by  over-exertion.  But  the 
Lord  has  seen  fit  to  spare  her,  and  we  can  but  feel  that 
it  is  in  answer  to  prayer. 

The  mission  appears  to  be  in  a prosperous  state.  The 
church  at  Balasore  consists  of  four  native  members;  two 
have  lately  joined.  There  are  some  three  or  four  enquirers. 
At  Jellasore  there  are  six  native  members  and  some 
enquirers.  The  boarding  schools  are  doing  well  — nobly. 
At  Balasore  there  are  twenty-seven  children  entirely 
supported  by  the  mission,  besides  seven  children  of  native 
Christians.  At  Jellasore  there  are  also  twenty-seven 
children,  also  suppbrted  by  the  mission.  These  children 
are  constantly  receiving  instruction,  both  religious  and 
literary.  There  are,  then,  sixty-one  children  who  a short 
time  since  were  heathen  now  receiving  religious  education. 
And  1 am  happy  to  say  that  among  this  number  there  are 
many  who  bid  fair  to  be  useful  in  the  church  of  the  Lord. 
The  schools  are  the  hope  of  the  mission.. 

There  are  Oriyah  services  twice  in  the  chapel  on  Sab- 
bath, and  in  English  once.  The  native  congregation  is 
about  forty,  including  school  children.  Generally  there  is 
bazaar  preaching  every  day.  . . . 

1 have  said  that  two  have  lately  joined  the  church  ; 
their  baptism  occurred  soon  after  our  arrival.  One  was 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL  75 

the  case  of  a man,  an  East  Indian,  or  half-blood,  who 
had  been  living  in  sin  for  many  years,  and  who  had 
become  a cripple  as  a result  of  his  dreadful  life.  The 
other  was  a vile  woman  with  whom  he  had  lived  for 
twelve  years,  but  to  whom  he  was  married  after  conver- 
sion. He  was  unable  to  walk,  and  was  carried  into  the 
water  in  a chair  by  four  heathen.  It  was  an  interesting 
sight  to  see  “publicans  and  harlots”  pressing  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  That  was  a blessed  day,  and  we  hope 
that  it  is  but  the  dawning  of  a more  glorious  day  to  our 
mission. 

I have  stated  that  Balasore  is  one  of  the  best  stations  in 
India.  It  numbers  about  15,000  inhabitants,  has  easy 
water  communication  with  Calcutta,  is  a place  of  consid- 
erable trade,  especially  in  salt,  and  when  I tell  you  that 
nearly  fifty  vessels  of  different  descriptions  accompanied 
us  when  we  came  here,  all  belonging  to  the  native  inhabi- 
tants of  Balasore,  you  will  see  that  it  is  a place  of 
considerable  importance.  Salt,  which  is  manufactured  in 
this  region  in  great  abundance,  is  the  principal  business. 
The  climate  must  be  healthful  on  account  of  the  nearness 
of  both  the  sea  and  the  mountains.  Yet,  though  favored 
more  than  many  of  our  mission  brethren,  we  must  suffer; 
fever  and  ague  we  must  endure.  In  the  changes  and 
inconveniences  incident  to  a separation  from  the  land  of 
our  birth,  to  a country  entirely  different  in  its  climate, 
habits,  and  customs  — the  antipodes  of  our  own  — we  must 
suffer  much.  Y et  we  regret  not  our  choice,  nor  do  we  sigh 
for  our  native  land.  . . . 

Having  fitted  himself  as  a medical  missionary 
by  studying  privately,  taking  a course  of  lectures 
at  Dartmouth,  and  another  at  the  Harvard  Medi- 
cal School,  and  then,  while  waiting  for  the  ship 


76 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


to  take  him  to  Calcutta,  making  careful  observa- 
tions at  the  Boston  hospitals  for  some  weeks, 
he  was  eager  to  enter  upon  medical  work.  He 
had  studied  medicine  nearly  three  years,  and 
could  pass  the  examinations,  but  the  law  which 
required  a student  to  be  entered  three  years 
with  a practicing  physician  forbade  him  from 
taking  his  degree.  Understanding  the  case  and 
appreciating  his  worth,  Dr.  Crosby  secured  for 
him  M.  D.  as  an  honorary  degree.  It  proved  to 
be  a great  advantage  to  him,  and  he  went  to 
India,  not  only  with  a degree,  but  also  well  pre- 
pared for  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery. 

It  may  be  well  for  us  to  take  a brief  survey  of 
his  medical  work  at  this  point.  Immediately  upon 
his  arrival  at  Balasore  it  was  understood  that  he 
would  attend  gratuitously  all  who  wished  medical 
assistance.  This  at  once  made  him  popular  with 
the  natives,  and  he  had  patients  daily. 

Attention  to  bodily  ailments  has  often  opened 
the  way  for  a proclamation  of  the  gospel  in 
modern  times  as  well  as  in  the  time  of  our 
Saviour ; especially  has  this  been  true  of  medical 
missionaries.  Whether  the  attention  be  given  to 
a leper  by  the  roadside,  a helpless  one  on  a cot,  a 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


77 


case  of  acute  disease,  or  a broken  limb,  to  show 
interest,  to  apply  some  remedy,  is  to  secure  an 
eager  congregation  to  hear  what  is  said.  Dr. 
J.  L.  Phillips  says  : — 

“One  day  I was  galloping  towards  a market, 
when  suddenly  my  horse  halted  before  the  huge 
body  of  a buffalo  that  lay  prostrate  in  the  road. 
These  animals  are  very  useful  in  India  both  for 
labor  and  for  milk.  This  one  had  met  with  a 
serious  accident.  His  right  hind  leg  was  out  of 
joint,  and  the  immense  beast  was  in  great  pain. 
A native  or  two  were  trying  to  help  the  poor 
creature,  but  to  no  purpose.  These  people  have 
very  little  idea  of  anatomy  and  less  of  surgery, 
and  they  are  fearfully  rough  in  all  their  manipu- 
lations. Upon  my  arrival  the  villagers  began  to 
gather,  and  after  showing  them  how  to  relieve 
the  distressed  buffalo,  1 found  a fine  audience  to 
preach  to,  standing  thick  all  around  us.  The 
poor  patient  beast  lay  in  the  center  of  the  crowd, 
and  served  for  a text,  and  it  was  easy  talking  to 
ready  listeners.’’ 

He  also  tells  us  how  in  one  place,  when  it  was 
very  difficult  to  get  the  attention  of  the  people,  a 
child  was  brought  to  him  with  tumor  of  the 


78 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


lower  lip.  The  operation  of  removing  this  was 
tedious,  the  blood  spurted  in  his  face  and  flowed 
freely,  but  it  served  to  attract  the  people,  “ and 
when  all  was  over,  the  wound  dressed,  and  the 
baby  quietly  helping  himself  from  the  mother’s 
full  breast,  then  was  the  time  to  preach  and  be 
heard.  No  one  could  ask  for  a better  congrega- 
tion. Everybody  was  respectful  and  attentive.” 
Such  experiences  are  common  to  the  medical 
missionary ; and  while  the  many  thousands 
have  at  different  times  been  waiting  their  turn 
at  Dr.  Bacheler’s  office  in  Balasore  and  Midna- 
pore,  the  opportunity  has  generally  been  improved 
to  give  to  them  the  gospel  message  in  word  and 
tract.  Thus  the  medical  missionary  has  the 
twofold  ministry  of  relieving  physical  suffering 
and  preaching  the  gospel,  either  of  which  should 
always  help  the  other.  Dr.  Bacheler  opened  a 
dispensary,  where  he  treated  cases  and  dispensed 
medicines.  Early  he  formed  a medical  class  to 
which  he  lectured,  fitting  the  students  to  practice. 
After  ten  years  of  this  work  at  this  place,  he 
says : — 

" The  Hindu  system  of  medicine,  deficient 
and  in  many  respects  erroneous  as  it  is,  is  not 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL  79 

generally  understood,  even  by  the  majority  of 
native  practitioners.  Their  knowledge  does  not 
extend  beyond  the  mere  rudiments  of  the  pro- 
fession. Of  surgery  they  understand  little. 
The  blacksmith  with  his  tongs  serves  as  dentist, 
and  the  barber  with  his  razor  as  surgeon,  since 
these  are  the  only  persons  supposed  to  have 
tools  adapted  to  the  practice  of  these  professions. 

“ All  our  missionaries  have  found  it  necessary 
to  engage,  more  or  less,  in  alleviating  the  physi- 
cal sufferings  of  the  people  among  whom  they 
have  labored.  A Dispensary  was  established  in 
Balasore,  which  for  ten  years  has  been  exten- 
sively patronized.  Medicines  have  been  dis- 
pensed to  all  who  applied,  and  surgical  operations 
performed  for  the  last  nine  years.  These 
applicants  have  usually  been  poor,  such  as 
were  not  able  to  pay  for  medical  advice.  The 
pilgrims  on  their  return  from  Jagurnath  have 
afforded  a large  number  of  patients  ; and  many 
came  from  remote  parts  of  the  district,  as  well 
as  from  the  town  and  vicinity  of  Balasore. 
During  the  last  year,  the  number  of  applicants 
has  very  much  increased,  in  consequence,  prob- 
ably, of  the  introduction  of  chloroform.  A few 


80 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


successful  operations  under  its  influence  seemed 
to  establish  the  confidence  of  the  people  to  an 
extent  never  before  known  — not  only  in  regard 
to  surgical  operations,  but  also  in  the  use  of 
European  medicines  generally. 

“A  small  medical  class  has  been  formed,  com- 
posed of  young  men  from  different  parts  of  the 
province.  They  are  pursuing  a course  of  study 
sufficiently  thorough,  it  is  hoped,  to  enable  them 
to  practice  medicine  and  surgery  with  success, 
according  to  European  principles. 

“ In  the  absence  of  medical  books,  a lecture 
has  been  delivered  daily,  which  each  student 
has  copied  out  for  future  reference ; and  these, 
when  the  course  is  completed,  will  embrace  a 
sufficient  amount  of  information  to  enable  them 
to  perform  the  duties  of  their  calling  with  accep- 
tance. They  have  rendered  great  assistance 
in  the  Dispensary,  most  of  the  labor  of  preparing 
and  dispensing  the  medicines  having  been  per- 
formed by  them.” 

He  says  concerning  the  apparent  results  : — 

“ i.  The  time  devoted  to  dispensing  medi- 
cines has  not,  on  the  average,  exceeded  one  hour 
daily. 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


81 


“2.  The  expenses  have  been  provided  by 
friends  who  feel  a particular  interest  in  this 
cause,  who  might  not,  perhaps,  feel  the  same 
interest  in  other  departments  of  missionary  labor. 

“ 3.  The  missionary  is  brought  much  more 
in  contact  with  the  people  than  he  could  other- 
wise be.  Wherever  he  goes  he  is  sought  after. 
At  home,  numbers  throng  his  house;  in  the 
country,  when  on  missionary  excursions,  his 
congregation  is  brought  to  his  tent,  and  he  is 
not  under  the  necessity  of  going  from  village  to 
village  to  collect  a small  company  to  which  to 
preach  the  word  of  life.  He  is  introduced  to  the 
retirement  of  the  family,  where  the  foot  of 
the  stranger  seldom  treads ; he  sits  down  as 
the  familiar  friend  and  adviser  of  those  who 
seek  his  aid. 

“4.  He  is  more  respected  and  loved  than  he 
would  otherwise  be ; respected  because  he  is 
able  to  render  assistance  in  time  of  need  ; and 
loved,  because  he  is  willing  to  do  so.” 

During  the  year  1850  number  of  cases  treated,  2,407  * 

Surgical  operations,  126 

Operations  under  the  influence  of  chloroform,  12 

Hinduism  and  Christianity  in  Orissa,”  Messrs.  C.  Rand  & Avery, 
Boston,  1856. 


82 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


In  his  report  published  in  1864  Dr.  Bacheler 
says  : “Although  located  in  the  midst  of  hospi- 
tals, dispensaries,  doctors,  and  quacks,  in  suffi- 
cient variety  and  abundance,  we  have  still  found 
occasion  for  the  practice  of  the  healing  art.  We 
rejoice  in  this  from  the  fact  that  there  are  no 
circumstances  in  life  where  the  distinctive  and 
practical  features  of  Christianity  are  so  clearly 
marked  as  by  the  side  of  the  sick  and  the  dying. 
. . . We  have  found  it  necessary,  however,  to 
modify  our  plan  of  former  years  to  meet  local 
circumstances.  A purely  charitable  Dispensary 
we  could  not  sustain  ; hence  we  have  adopted 
the  plan  of  requiring  payment  for  medicines  from 
such  as  are  able,  while  the  poor  are  treated 
gratuitously.”  In  his  report  of  1874,  he  says  : 
“ We  still  regard  the  Dispensary  as  a valuable 
means  of  good.  The  sale  of  medicine  to  those 
who  are  able  to  pay,  meets  the  current 
expenses.” 

In  his  report  of  1882  he  says  : “ The  last  rainy 
season  had  an  unusual  rainfall.  Our  usual 
monthly  average  of  patients  had  been  about 
two  hundred  and  fifty.  There  was  a marked 
increase  in  August.  In  September  and  October 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


83 


we  registered  two  thousand  for  each  month,  in 
November  three  thousand,  in  December  two 
thousand,  in  January  one  thousand,  making  ten 
thousand  during  five  months.”  How  busy  he 
must  have  been  ! And  yet  he  does  not  forget 
to  add  : “ The  opportunity  for  imparting  Chris- 
tian instruction  has  been  greatly  enlarged  by  this 
influx  of  patients.  Our  native  preachers  have 
been  in  attendance,  more  or  less,  to  remind 
those  seeking  relief  from  physical  suffering  of 
their  still  greater  need  of  looking  to  the  Great 
Physician.”  Surely  the  combination  of  physician 
and  minister  could  hardly  find  a more  worthy 
exponent  than  in  this  man. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  when  Dr.  Bacheler 
returned  to  India  in  December,  1862,  he  located 
in  Midnapore  and  established  a Dispensary  at 
that  place.  The  Balasore  Dispensary,  estab- 
lished in  1840,  was  discontinued  after  a faithful 
service  of  twenty  years,  averaging  about  2,200 
patients  a year  during  the  last  eighteen  years 
of  its  existence.  A branch  dispensary  was  also 
established  in  connection  with  the  mission  station 
at  Jellasore.  The  chief  cause  of  its  discontin- 
uance at  Balasore  was  the  establishment  of  a 


84 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


government  hospital  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town. 
The  native  medical  students  under  Dr.  Bacheler’s 
instruction  proved  valuable  assistants  in  surgical 
operations  and  in  medical  work.  Several  of  them 
rendered  important  service  subsequently  in  other 
missions.  One  was  called  to  Cuttack,  one  to 
Barhampore,  and  another  to  Calcutta,  while 
several  remained  at  Balasore.  To  help  these 
students  he  published  a “ Medical  Guide,”  at 
first  in  Oriya  and  subsequently  much  enlarged 
in  Bengali.  So  far  as  known,  these  were  the 
first  books  published  in  these  languages,  in  which 
the  European  system  of  medical  practice  was 
set  forth. 

In  1884,  when  Dr.  Bacheler  was  in  this 
country,  Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips  wrote  concerning 
the  Dispensary  in  Midnapore  : “ Dr.  Bacheler’s 
twenty  years  in  this  city  had  attached  many 
people  to  our  mission  Dispensary,  some  of  them 
patients  living  miles  away  in  the  district.  . . . 
It  would  be  such  a joy  to  us,  as  1 have  intimated 
in  former  reports,  could  we  make  this  medical 
department  more  distinctively  missionary.  The 
only  hope  of  doing  this  now  seems  to  hang  on 
Dr.  Bacheler’s  return  to  his  old  post.  Relieved 


THE  VOYAGE  AND  ARRIVAL 


85 


as  he  could  be,  were  he  to  come  again,  of  some 
of  his  former  burdens,  we  might  make  our 
Dispensary  in  this  city  such  a missionary  agency 
as  it  should  be,  and  a valuable  auxiliary  to  our 
work.  . . . This  important  department  owes  its 
origin  in  our  Mission  to  his  labors,  and  he  has 
been  permitted  to  devote  much  time  and  strength 
to  it.” 

When  Dr.  Bacheler  returned  to  India  he 
became  principal  of  the  Bible  School,  a place 
which  he  filled  during  the  remaining  years  of  his 
life  in  India,  but  even  then  he  did  not  give  up  his 
work  in  the  Dispensary.  Ably  assisted  by  his 
daughter,  Mary  W.  Bacheler,  M.  D.,  he  attended 
to  thousands  of  the  sick.  In  1887  he  reported  : 
“About  the  average  number  — three  thousand  — 
have  been  to  us  for  treatment  this  year.”  To 
see  how  the  appreciation  of  this  Dispensary 
grew,  and  how  the  numbers  increased  we  have 
only  to  look  at  the  Mission  Report  of  1895,  which 
gives  us  the  much  greater  average  of  9,200  patients 
for  the  year.  As  time  has  gone  on,  other  medical 
missionaries  have  gone  into  service  in  that  field 
in  the  persons  of  James  L.  Phillips,  Mary  W. 
Bacheler,  Harry  M.  Bacheler,  Nellie  M.  Phillips, 


86 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  Thomas  W.  Burkholder,  all  of  whom  have 
been  abundantly  blessed  in  their  ministrations  to 
the  bodies  and  souls  of  the  natives  of  India  ; all 
of  whom  bear  cheerful  testimony  to  the  great 
importance  of  this  department  of  mission  work 


CHAPTER  IV 


BAZAAR  PREACHING  — COLD-SEASON  WORK — 
MR.  NOYES  GIVES  UP  HIS  WORK. 

TWO  departments  of  work  in  which  all  the 
missionaries  of  this  mission  have  been  more  or 
less  interested,  and  in  which  Dr.  Bacheler 
engaged  from  the  beginning  to  the  close  of  his 
life  in  India,  so  far  as  he  was  able,  deserve  our 
consideration  here.  We  have  referred  to  them, 
but  they  deserve  our  attention  more  fully.  We 
mean  “Bazaar  preaching’’  and  “itinerating,” 
or  “cold-season  work.” 

He  describes  his  first  visit  to  the  Bazaar  with 
Mr.  Noyes  and  a native  preacher,  which  occurred 
before  he  had  been  in  Balasore  twenty-four 
hours,  in  the  following  manner:  — 

“We  took  our  stand  in  the  principal  street. 
Prasuram*  commenced  by  singing,  or  rather 
chanting,  from  a tract  which  began:  — 

‘O  people  of  the  world,  consider, 

From  darkest  sin  how 
You  can  obtain  salvation.’ 


* The  native  preacher. 


88 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


One  and  then  another  and  another  of  those 
passing  by  stopped  to  listen  ; soon  quite  a 
congregation  had  collected.  He  then  commenced 
to  talk,  perhaps  by  asking  a question.  Some 
raised  objections,  which  he  would  answer,  the 
missionary  and  bystanders  engaging  in  the  dis- 
cussion. The  native  preacher  spoke  for  fifteen 
or  twenty  minutes.  Brother  Noyes  then  began 
to  speak,  but  had  not  proceeded  far  before 
another  discussion  arose,  lasting  for  some  time  ; 
then  came  the  distribution  of  tracts,  which  to  an 
inexperienced  person  was  rather  novel.  The 
bystanders  rush  quite  unceremoniously  upon  the 
distributers,  each  one  anxious  to  obtain  a tract, 
and  each  one  fearing  that  he  will  not  succeed. 
One  seizes  a tract  and  runs  with  it ; another 
pursues  him  ; the  strongest  bears  away  the  prize. 
In  the  shoving  and  pulling  which  attend  these 
events,  the  missionary  is  not  certain  that  he  will 
not  get  roughly  handled.  This  was  a sample  of 
the  daily  Bazaar  preaching  which  the  mission- 
aries of  the  various  stations  would  engage  in. 
Brother  Noyes,  who  had  preceded  me  in  the 
Mission,  was  an  able  missionary.  It  was  provi- 
dential that  I had  such  a man  to  induct  me  into 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


89 


the  work.  I have  ever  been  thankful  for  the 
example  of  this  good  brother,  who  from  the  first 
put  me  on  the  track  of  the  best  method  of  pros- 
ecuting missionary  work.” 

In  this  work  the  teachings  of  the  Bible  are 
kept  before  the  minds  of  the  hearers  as  much  as 
possible,  but  often  the  natives  argue  from  the 
Shasters  and  then  the  missionary  must  argue 
from  the  Shasters  too;  this  requires  that  he  have 
a thorough  understanding  of  them.  When  he 
goes  out  to  preach  he  has  no  idea  what  turn 
the  occasion  will  take  in  argument,  so  by  diligent 
research  and  study  he  must  be  well  and  widely 
prepared  with  his  subject,  — prepared  not  only 
to  take  care  of  himself,  but  also  of  the  reputation 
of  his  Lord  ; and  if  he  accomplishes  anything,  he 
must  be  not  only  able  on  the  defensive  but  also 
aggressive  and  positive.  Dr.  Bacheler  was 
remarkably  successful  in  this  field  ; he  was  far- 
seeing,  cool,  collected,  and  self-possessed,  — 
characteristics  of  generalship  in  Bazaar  preaching 
as  necessary  as  learning.  Bazaar  preaching 
must  be  awakening,  and  the  Bazaar  preacher 
must  be  awake.  Interruptions  are  frequent, 
sometimes  savage.  Consecutive  discourse  is  out 


90 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


of  the  question,  and  after  the  preacher  gets  used 
to  it  he  regards  it  very  dull  if  he  is  allowed  to 
talk  over  ten  minutes  without  interruption.  All 
this  is  splendid  discipline  ; it  makes  the  speaker 
careful  and  alert.  Sometimes  he  contends  with 
youthful  natives  filled  with  bombast,  egotism, 
and  much  wind,  induced  by  a little  education  ; 
then  with  venerable,  sober  men,  learned  in  their 
sacred  books  and  in  infidel  works  ; sometimes 
with  indecent  and  derisive  nondescripts  who  are 
as  willing  to  do  violence  to  the  missionary’s  body 
as  to  his  argument ; then  with  veritable  religious 
fools  glorying  in  their  foolishness.  In  the  Bazaar 
Dr.  Bacheler’s  generalship  excelled. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips  says  : “One  day  a young 
Brahmo,  or  Hindu  Unitarian,  did  his  best  to 
break  us  up.  He  found  the  people  listening 
attentively  to  our  words,  and  could  not  long,  be 
quiet.  First  he  asked  a question  in  English, 
which  at  once  gives  a man  prominence  in  such  a 
company.  ‘ What  is  your  worship  of  Jesus 
Christ  but  a kind  of  refined  idolatry  ?’  For  some 
reason  this  man  dislikes  to  enter  into  an  argu- 
ment in  his  own  language,  still  our  standing  rule 
is  not  to  talk  English  to  one  or  two  in  the  pres- 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


91 


ence  of  a large  Bengali-speaking  audience.  So 
we  take  to  Bengali,  and  hold  on  to  the  Babu 
until  he  is  disposed  to  keep  still  for  want  of  some- 
thing to  say.  . . . These  natives  have  heard 
and  some  of  them  have  read  about  American  and 
English  free-thinkers  and  French  and  German 
infidels,  and  we  have  to  be  ready  to  answer 
them.  Let  no  one  fancy  that  to  accomplish  this 
is  always  the  lightest  task.  There  are  men  in 
the  ranks  of  Hindu  infidelity  who  are  something 
besides  empty  declaimers,  and  venders  of  other 
men’s  wares.  The  ablest  missionary  in  India 
will  not  infrequently  meet  men  who  will  make 
him  hesitate  and  gird  himself  anew  for  the 
conflict.  It  may  be  easy  enough  to  dispose  of 
pretenders,  and  upset  the  dwarf-on-stilts  gentry, 
but  to  join  battle  with  a strong  man  amid  the 
confusion  of  the  Bazaar,  and,  holding  him  close 
up,  one  by  one  expose  his  errors,  and  thus  for 
an  hour,  it  may  be,  deal  heavy  blows  fast,  — 
this  is  not  exactly  gala-day  parade,  nor  does  it 
belong  to  the  province  of  ordinary  preaching. 

“ The  opponents  who  meet  us  more  frequently 
in  the  Bazaar  are  men  of  less  calibre  than  the 
class  just  alluded  to ; still  they  are  not  slow  to 


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LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


appear  in  defence  of  their  ancestral  faith.  . . . 
In  this  connection  it  should  be  remarked  that 
Bazaar  controversy  has  essentially  changed  its 
base  of  late  years.  The  pioneer  missionaries 
used  to  hear  much  of  the  Shasters,  and  great 
efforts  were  made  to  understand  these  in  order 
to  be  able  to  refute  them.  The  Brahmins,  when- 
ever caught  or  cornered  in  debate,  invariably 
took  refuge  in  the  Shasters.  But  this  is  seldom 
the  case  now.  Indeed  it  may  truthfully  be  said 
that  the  Shasters  have  quit  the  field,  and  the 
same  is  true  of  the  Koran.  The  Bible  now 
stands  alone,  and  the  controversy  turns  upon  its 
claims  to  be  received  as  the  only  true  book. 
Now  the  Brahmins  attack  Christ  instead  of 
defending  Krishna.  Hinduism  is  past  apology. 
It  is  only  a very  ignorant  priest  who  now  and 
then  lifts  his  lone  voice  in  its  defence.  The 
people  are  dumb  and  the  idols  dead.  ‘ On 
against  Christianity  ’ is  the  war  cry  now.  . . . 
The  most  gratifying  feature  of  Bazaar  controversy 
is  the  fact  that  now  and  then  people  seem  to  so 
far  assent  to  the  truth  as  to  frankly  admit  that 
every  objection  has  been  fully  met  and  every 
argument  completely  refuted  that  the  opposition 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


93 


has  brought  forward.”  ( Baptist  Quarterly,  1869.) 
Every  year  good  reports  were  sent  home  con- 
cerning the  work  in  Midnapore  Bazaar.  The 
native  preachers  and  Bible  School  students  were 
taken  to  help  ; also  the  new  missionaries  as  soon 
as  they  got  their  tongue,  and  so  we  heard  of 
Stiles  and  Miner,  and  H.  M.  Bacheler  as  engaging 
in  this  evangelistic  effort  with  the  Nestor  of  the 
Midnapore  work.  Dr.  H.  M.  Bacheler  proved  a 
great  attraction  with  his  cornet. 

In  1882  Bazaar  work  was  hindered  for  a time 
in  a very  peculiar  way.  A Hindu  preacher  took 
up  his  stand  near  to  that  of  the  missionaries  and 
so  divided  the  audience.  How  he  was  disposed 
of,  Dr.  Bacheler  must  tell  you  in  his  own  words. 
He  says  : — 

“ The  most  cheering  event  of  the  year 
was  the  coming  of  a Hindu  preacher,  preaching 
for  a few  days  orthodox  Hinduism.  We  had 
heard  of  Mohammedan  preachers  and  Brahmo 
preachers,  but  preachers  of  Hinduism  we  had 
never  seen  before.  He  came  while  I was  away, 
and  started  an  opposition  exercise  within  a few 
feet  of  our  stand.  Jacob  had  endeavored  to  hold 
his  own  till  my  return,  but  with  partial  success. 


94 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Sometimes  one  drew  the  people,  sometimes  the 
other,  but  the  stranger'had  the  advantage  beyond 
a doubt.  When  I first  met  him  I declined  to 
enter  into  any  argument.  I told  him  that  as  we 
were  teachers  of  religion  we  must  not  quarrel 
about  it,  but  make  one  party,  and  invited  him  to 
our  stand,  promising  that  he  should  have  all  the 
time  that  he  wished,  and  we  would  speak  in 
turn.  He  held  back,  but  I insisted,  and  finally 
he  reluctantly  consented.  At  first  he  said  he 
did  not  care  to  speak,  as  he  had  already  been 
talking  for  some  time.  The  next  night  he  was 
there  with  his  friends,  but  attempted  no  opposi- 
tion. I asked  him  to  speak.  He  seemed  doubt- 
ful whether  1 was  in  earnest,  but  I said,  ‘ Come, 
speak  ; I want  to  hear  you.  He  then  took  the 
stand  and  made  a very  good  speech,  saying  what 
he  could  in  favor  of  Hinduism,  and  at  the  same 
time  complimenting  Christianity.  I followed, 
making  no  reference  to  what  he  said,  but  instead 
gave  an  account  of  my  religious  experience  from 
childhood  to  that  time.  He  stood  by  and 
assented,  and  at  times  even  applauded.  Clearly 
he  was  disappointed.  The  college  boys  who 
had  come  with  him  were  disappointed  too. 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


95 


Opposition  was  what  they  wanted  ; then  they 
would  have  had  some  fun,  possibly  a row.  But 
there  was  no  chance,  and  so  they  gave  it  up. 

“ I invited  the  preacher  to  my  house.  He  came 
the  next  day,  and  we  had  a long  and  friendly 
talk.  I again  invited  him  to  join  us  in  the 
Bazaar,  but  evidently  his  plans  were  frustrated, 
and  we  had  triumphed.  He  returned  to  Cal- 
cutta whence  he  came,  and  we  saw  him  no 
more.  This  little  matter  helped  us.  The  people 
understood  us  better,  and  our  congregations 
became  larger  and  more  interested. 

“ In  1887  a Mohammedan  preacher  did  the  same 
thing,  with  the  apparent  purpose  of  exposing 
Hinduism,  but  our  missionaries  did  not  oppose 
him  and  he  soon  left.  The  result  to  our  work 
was  good.” 

How  plainly  these  few  events,  chosen  from 
many,  show  that  Dr.  Bacheler  was  not  only 
zealous,  but  a master  workman  in  the  Bazaar. 
Sometimes  three  parties  preached  daily  in 
different  parts  of  the  town.  At  some  seasons 
of  the  year,  the  Santal  students  made  up  two 
parties,  and  visiting  the  five  Santal  villages 
within  a mile  and  a half  of  the  town,  read  and 


96 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


sang,  and  talked  to  them.  In  the  morning  the 
young  preachers  visited  from  house  to  house, 
while  the  superannuated  preachers  distributed 


ANOTHER  FAVORITE  PLACE  FOR  BAZAAR  PREACHING  IN  MIDNAPORE. 


tracts  in  front  of  the  chapel.  Such  were  some 
of  the  methods  used  in  connection  with  Bazaar 
work. 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


97 


Another  method  of  work  carried  on  by  the 
mission  from  the  first  is  that  of  “itinerating.” 
It  is  also  called  “cold-season  work,”  and 
“camp  work.”  This  occurs  during  the  three- 
months  of  cool  weather,  when  the  missionary- 
takes  native  preachers  and  helpers,  sometimes 
his  wife,  and,  living  in  a tent,  goes  from  village 
to  village,  market  to  market,  preaching,  distrib- 
uting tracts  and  Gospels.  These  exercises  are 
conducted  in  much  the  same  way  as  the  Bazaar 
preaching.  Wherever  the  tent  is  pitched,  there 
the  people  congregate,  stand  or  sit,  listen,  object 
or  ask  questions,  as  they  please.  The  good 
which  has  been  accomplished  in  this  way  can- 
not be  measured  by  us.  It  is  a kind  of  evangel- 
istic tour  which  has  been  carried  on  from  year 
to  year,  by  different  missionaries,  and  thus  the 
jungle  and  distant  people  have  been  reached, 
and  the  gospel  has  been  scattered  in  all  direc- 
tions. These  tours  vary  each  year  with  peculiar 
experiences,  no  one  of  them  ever  being  dupli- 
cated, and  yet  a year’s  experience  of  any 
missionary  will  furnish  us  a fair  sample  of  the 
whole.  It  would  be  easy  for  us  to  turn  to  some 
of  the  recent  accounts  of  this  work  as  given 


98 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


by  Missionaries  Lougher  and  Murphy  in  The 
Morning  Star,  but  the  work  done  in  the  early 
years  of  the  mission,  as  Dr.  Bacheler  engaged  in 
it,  is  most  interesting  in  connection  with  this 
biography.  In  Missionary  Cooley’s  journal  he 
tells  us  of  going  to  Baripada,  the  capital  of  the 
Mohurbunge  Territory.  They  must  carry  tents. 
In  the  van  was  what  is  called  a banghi  wallah, 
a man  who  carries  burdens  suspended  from  a 
stick  across  his  shoulders.  In  two  large  baskets 
thus  suspended,  dishes  and  food  were  carried. 
Then  came  another  banghi  wallah,  with  grain 
for  the  horses  in  one  basket  and  books  for  dis- 
tribution in  the  other.  Then  came  two  more 
with  camp-bedsteads,  the  tent  pole,  and  stools. 
Then  came  the  missionaries  on  horseback,  and 
the  syces,  — men  who  care  for  the  horses,  — 
with  blankets,  ropes,  and  stakes  for  the  tents, 
and  instruments  for  cutting  grass,  and  digging 
grass  roots,  for  when  they  find  no  grass  they 
dig  the  roots  for  the  horses.  Then  came  the 
native  preachers  and  Christians,  and,  behind  all, 
four  bullocks  and  their  drivers,  bearing  on  their 
backs  the  tent,  bedding,  valises  of  clothing, 
cooking  utensils,  and  firearms,  which,  of  course, 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


99 


must  find  a place  somewhere  among  this  equip- 
ment necessary  for  defence  and  supplying  food. 
All  these  things  could  be  taken  by  an  American 
horse  and  wagon  over  American  roads  in  half 
the  time  that  it  takes  this  company  to  accom- 
plish the  job.  Thus  the  procession  is  very 
plainly  brought  before  us  ; it  would  seem  suffi- 
cient in  itself  to  attract  marked  attention,  but 
is  all  necessary  for  travelling  through  the 
country  in  India. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips,  who  wrote  so  lucidly,  so 
vivaciously  and  interestingly  as  to  almost  carry 
his  readers  into  the  jungle  with  him,  gives  a 
most  graphic  account  of  his  experiences  in  “ Four 
Months  in  Camp,”  and  “ Preaching  Tours  in 
India,”  in  the  Baptist  Quarterly  for  1866  and 
1867.  He  tells  us  that  at  one  place  he  comes 
across  the  body  of  a pilgrim  who  had  died 
scarcely  an  hour  before,  which  is  being  devoured 
by  vultures,  dogs,  and  jackals.  He  makes  a 
stand,  gathers  a congregation,  and  begins  to 
preach.  The  company  ridicules  him,  and  some 
one  shouts,  “Jesus  Christ  again!  Well,  who 
was  His  mother  ? She  wasn’t  a married  woman, 
was  she?”  Another  calls  out,  “ So  you  want 


100 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


us  all  to  eat  beef,  wear  beards,  and  be  Christians, 
do  you  7"  When  the  din  ceases  another  cries  : 
“Shall  we  all  turn  white  by  obeying  Christ ?” 
Others  become  more  serious.  They  say:  “If 
we  become  Christians,  stop  lying  and  cheating, 
our  work  is  at  once  at  a standstill.  We  cannot 
live  without  these."  Still  others  seem  not  to 
understand  the  motive  of  the  missionary,  and 
ask  : “Sir,  1 want  to  know  just  what  salary  we 
can  get  by  becoming  Christians.  What  appoint- 
ments can  you  secure  for  us  in  the  government 
service?"  But  there  are  others  who  hear  the 
word  gladly,  who  accept  it  and  are  greatly  com- 
forted. Many  are  very  friendly  to  the  mission- 
ary, help  to  provide  food  for  him,  and  invite 
him  to  their  homes  for  private  conversation. 
Altogether  it  is  preaching  the  gospel  through  a 
kind  of  gypsy  life,  moving  from  place  to  place 
as  circumstances  indicate,  gathering  some  food 
by  the  way,  and  making  one’s  self  at  home 
among  strangers,  and  under  many  difficulties  ; 
yet  thus  is  improved  one  of  the  opportunities 
which  the  light-bearer  gets  for  lighting  dark 
places  through  personal  hardship. 

Dr.  Bacheler  was  greatly  interested  in  this 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


101 


kind  of  work.  Two  months  after  reaching  Bal- 
asore  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes  took  him  for  his  first 
trip  into  the  country.  Mr.  Noyes  had  a tent 
ten  feet  square,  which  accommodated  two  cots 
for  them  and  a small  table.  Their  course 
took  them  away  from  the  road  and  over  the 
ricefields.  Mr.  Noyes  travelled  in  a palanquin, 
and  Dr.  Bacheler  on  his  pony.  Their  luggage 
was  carried  on  men’s  shoulders,  as  already 
described.  Including  a native  preacher  and  a 
cook  their  party  numbered  fifteen.  The  men 
were  employed  by  the  day,  at  about  eight  cents 
each,  and  remained  with  them  during  the  trip. 
Bhekari  was  the  native  preacher  who  accom- 
panied them,  a man  of  considerable  power.  The 
plan  was  to  spend  a week  or  more  at  a place, 
visiting  the  villages  near  by,  and  then  to  move 
on  a few  miles  to  some  other  central  place.  But 
on  account  of  the  illness  of  Mr.  Noyes  they 
spent  only  ten  days.  Mr.  Noyes’s  health  was 
very  poor  at  this  time,  and  about  six  months 
after  Dr.  Bacheler’s  arrival  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  the  country,  making  over  the  work  of 
the  Balasore  station,  which  consisted  of  a church, 
boarding  school,  and  Bazaar  preaching,  to  the 


102 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Bachelers.  Of  this  tour,  the  first  which  he 
made  in  India,  one  full  of  novelty  and  interest 
to  him,  one  which  became  to  some  extent  an 
example  for  the  rest,  we  will  let  Dr.  Bacheler 
speak  as  he  recorded  the  events  in  his  journal. 
It  runs  as  follows  : — 

Dec.  4th,  1840.  Left  Balasore  this  morning  and  joined 
Brothers  Noyes  and  Bhekari  at  Cooleyahat,  where  they 
had  advanced  with  the  tent  the  day  before.  Found  the 
tent  pitched  under  a large  banyan  tree,  in  the  midst  of  a 
small  village.  A few  people  were  at  the  tent  door,  listening 
to  the  Word  of  Life.  They  appeared  very  attentive. 
Some  acknowledged  that  our  religion  is  true,  but  said : 
“If  we  buy  these  books  how  shall  we  fill  our  bellies? 
How  shall  we  live  if  we  cannot  lie,  and  cheat,  and 
steal  ? ” Others  said,  “ How  can  we  worship  God  whom 
we  cannot  see? ” 

At  2 P.  M.  went  to  attend  a market  at  another  village 
about  four  miles  distant.  Our  course  for  most  of  the  way 
lay  through  ricefields,  which  had  just  yielded  their  crop. 
We  found  about  five  hundred  people  assembled  to  sell 
their  rice,  vegetables,  cloth,  and  various  merchandise. 
Bhekari  commenced  by  singing  ; then  he  talked  about 
fifteen  minutes,  and  Brother  Noyes  followed  for  the  same 
length  of  time.  Then  we  distributed  about  four  hundred 
tracts  and  a few  Gospels.  While  Bhekari  was  speaking 
on  the  subject  of  licentiousness,  a Brahmin  remarked: 
“As  is  my  wife,  so  are  all  other  women.  Adultery  is  no 
crime.”  Thus  he  acknowledged  that  virtue  does  not  exist 
among  Hindu  women. 

5th.  Called  to  see  two  men  who  were  severely  burned 
last  night  in  the  ricefields,  their  temporary  straw  hut 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


103 


having  taken  fire  while  they  were  asleep.  We  found  the 
entrance  to  their  habitation  occupied  by  the  cattle  as  a 
stable.  Notwithstanding,  the  attendants  had  the  polite- 
ness to  request  us  to  take  off  our  shoes  before  entering 
this  filthy  enclosure.  We  found  the  men  suffering  excru- 
ciating pain  ; one  of  them  was  so  dreadfully  burned  that 
the  skin  had  separated  from  most  of  his  body.  We 
administered  what  relief  we  were  able,  and  went  on. 

6th.  Boitalee  Hat.  Removed  our  tent  to  this  place  this 
forenoon.  There  is  to  be  a market  here  to-day. 

At  i P.  M.  there  were  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
people  at  the  market.  Bhekari  and  Brother  Noyes  spoke 
for  some  time,  and  gave  out  about  two  hundred  tracts  and 
books.  These  markets  are  held,  not  in  villages,  but  in 
the  fields,  and  under  the  shade  of  large  trees;  the  mer- 
chant sits  upon  the  ground  after  the  manner  of  a tailor, 
with  his  merchandise  before  him. 

7th.  Seargunge.  At  io  o’clock,  struck  our  tent  and 
moved  to  this  place,  twelve  miles.  Our  route  to-day 
lay  through  ricefields,  for  a considerable  distance,  as 
formerly,  but  for  a part  of  the  way  through  fields  of  high 
groves,  where  we  saw  numerous  head  of  cattle,  each 
attended  by  a herdsman  in  true  oriental  style.  We  find 
travelling  very  difficult  in  the  fields,  especially  the  rice- 
fields,  as  they  are  cut  up  into  patches  of  from  three  to  six 
rods  square,  by  raising  a ridge  of  earth  about  one  foot 
high,  and  eight  or  ten  inches  in  width,  in  order  to  retain 
the  water  during  the  rains.  Imagine,  then,  these  extended 
stubble-fields,  with  sometimes  a rough  and  crooked  path, 
and  some  of  the  way  none,  and  you  have  something  of 
the  inconvenience  of  our  country  travelling.  We  are  now 
encamped  beneath  a spreading  tamarind  tree,  in  the 
midst  of  a large  village,  which  has  more  the  appearance  of 
industry  than  we  have  yet  seen.  A few  people  came 
around  the  tent  and  received  instruction  and  tracts. 


104 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Passed  through  the  village  and  gave  tracts  to  some 
anxious  applicants.  Were  invited  into  the  court  of  a 
temple,  where  Bhekari  spoke  to  a few  people,  and  gave 
tracts.  Gave  a Gospel  to  the  attending  Brahmins,  who 
received  it  kindly.  We  have  scattered  the  means  of 
information  among  many  of  the  blind  idolaters,  but  fear 
the  seed  thus  sown  will  not  take  effect  extensively,  until 
many  of  the  people  have  passed  the  bounds  of  time. 

8th.  Hearing  that  we  were  near  the  great  salt  works, 
we  took  a large  supply  of  books  and  tracts,  and  set  out  at 
an  early  hour.  We  travelled  through  low  jungle  and 
thick  underbrush,  and  with  much  difficulty  arrived  at  our 
place  of  destination.  Found  but  a small  establishment 
and  few  people.  Bhekari  and  Brother  Noyes  spoke  for  a 
short  time,  and  gave  away  a few  books  and  tracts. 

The  salt  works  are  very  different  from  those  in 
America.  The  salt  is  made  entirely  by  boiling.  About 
one  hundred  small  pots,  holding  perhaps  two  quarts  each, 
are  cemented  into  the  exterior  of  a large  oven.  A fire  is 
then  built  of  grass  inside,  and  the  water  boiled  until 
nothing  is  left  but  salt.  It  is  then  conveyed  to  a large 
eminence,  piled  upon  the  ground,  and  stamped  with  large 
letters  over  the  entire  surface,  so  that  should  any  be 
stolen,  the  thief  would  be  easily  detected. 

Our  tent  has  been  thronged  to-day  by  those  eager  for 
books.  We  have  left  many  in  the  village,  and  we  can 
but  hope  that  the  people  will  be  blessed  by  reading  the 
same,  and  that  the  instruction  here  imparted  will  not 
soon  be  forgotten. 

9th.  Set  out  at  an  early  hour  for  Cooroonea,  five 
miles  distant.  We  passed  through  an  extensive  plain  ; 
interspersed  were  numerous  villages.  Finding  that  I could 
travel  faster  horseback  than  Brother  Noyes  could  in  his 
palanquin,  1 embraced  the  opportunity  to  ride  around 
among  the  different  villages  lying  near  our  route,  for  the 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


105 


purpose  of  distributing  tracts.  I was  thus  enabled  to  put 
in  circulation  one  hundred  and  fifty  tracts  in  four  differ- 
ent villages.  They  were  kindly  received.  I am  not  able 
to  speak  to  the  people  intelligently,  but  find  no  difficulty  in 
distributing  tracts.  After  a pleasant  jaunt  of  two  hours, 
we  found  an  agreeable  shade  in  the  outskirts  of  a village 
of  about  10,000  inhabitants.  Being  in  advance  of  Brother 
Noyes,  I galloped  into  the  village  unattended.  The  princi- 
pal men,  supposing  me  to  be  an  officer  of  government 
come  to  collect  taxes  and  inspect  the  crops,  came  around 
me  and  in  a most  servile  manner  seized  my  horse,  and 
insisted  that  I should  go  to  their  fields  immediately ; but 
finding  me  not  disposed  to  go,  they  brought  bundles  of 
their  grain  as  specimens.  It  was,  indeed,  miserable  stuff, 
not  one-quarter  of  an  average  crop.  It  is  indeed  hard  for 
the  poor  in  years  of  famine,  and  such  years  come  very 
frequently.  They  find  but  little  left  for  their  own  sub- 
sistence after  paying  the  enormous  taxes. 

This  afternoon  we  attended  a market  near  the  village, 
found  about  fifty  people,  and  gave  a few  tracts.  The 
country  here  is  rather  more  fertile,  and  sugar-cane  is 
cultivated  somewhat  extensively. 

ioth.  In  the  afternoon  visited  a large  market  about 
one  mile  from  this  one.  This  market  was  held  under 
some  very  large  trees  in  the  midst  of  a broad  plain. 
About  six  hundred  people  were  present.  Brother  Noyes 
preached  from  the  text,  “ Repent,  for  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  at  hand.”  After  this  we  gave  out  about  six 
hundred  tracts  and  books.  The  people  listened  with  good 
attention,  and  received  the  tracts  with  eagerness.  It 
sometimes  happens  that  in  their  eagerness  to  obtain  tracts 
they  rush  upon  the  missionary  with  considerable  violence. 
Several  times  to-day  I found  myself  surrounded  by  a 
very  large  crowd  with  outstretched  hands  ready  to 
snatch  the  tracts  faster  than  they  could  possibly  be  given, 


106 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  when  they  pressed  too  hard  I had  only  to  turn  round 
suddenly,  exercising  my  elbows  at  the  same  time,  and  a 
circle  was  soon  formed.  The  Hindus  are  frail  creatures; 
a white  man  of  moderate  strength  is  a Hercules  among 
them.  We  are  now  about  fifteen  miles  southeast  of  Bal- 
asore,  in  a part  of  the  country  never  before  visited  by  any 
missionary.  The  people  are  very  much  surprised  to  see 
us,  and  inquire  with  astonishment  why  we  give  away  so 
many  books.  To-day  two  men  returned  books  which 
they  had  received,  saying  that  they  were  the  Sahib’s 
papers,  and  they  knew  not  what  would  become  of  them  if 
they  kept  them.  Doubtless  most  of  our  books  are  read, 
and  the  consequence  must  be  that  they  will  become 
enlightened,  and  be  led  to  think  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
if  not  converted. 

nth.  As  some  of  our  men  were  absent,  we  were  unable 
to  remove  the  tent  to-day.  And  as  Brother  Noyes  was 
not  well,  did  not  go  out  until  afternoon.  Bhekari  spoke 
to  a few  men,  women,  and  children  ; gave  a few  tracts 
and  returned.  It  was  the  first  time  I have  seen  respectable 
women  in  attendance  on  preaching  in  the  bazaar.  The 
women  generally  are  not  allowed  to  have  anything  to  do 
in  matters  of  religion.  This  part  of  the  country  seems  to 
be  in  a more  prosperous  condition  than  the  more  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  Balasore-  The  soil  is  more  fertile, 
and  although  the  country  is  densely  populated,  and  they 
derive  a good  support  from  the  soil,  yet  with  a little  labor 
it  might  be  rendered  abundantly  more  productive ; but 
idolatry  tills  the  land,  and  improvement  is  out  of  the 
question.  O may  it  speedily  cease,  and  the  religion  of 
Christ  prevail ! 

12th.  Bamangar.  Struck  our  tent  at  an  early  hour, 
and  moved  on  through  fields  of  rice  stubble  to  this  place, 
which  is  situated  on  the  great  Jagurnath  road,  three 
miles  from  our  former  stopping-place.  Having  the  advan- 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


107 


tage  of  a good  horse,  I was  able  to  gallop  over  stubble 
fields  and  through  jungle,  and  visit  seven  or  eight  different 
villages  which  lay  near  our  route,  distributing  tracts  as  1 
went.  Most  of  these  villages  have  never  been  visited 
by  any  missionary.  At  a village,  beneath  the  shade  of  a 
large  tree,  1 found  quite  a respectable  school.  1 called  the 
teacher  and  gave  him  several  tracts,  with  .which  he 
appeared  to  be  highly  delighted.  With  a smiling  counte- 
nance he  blessed  me  with  words  which  1 could  not  under- 
stand. At  another  place  1 found  an  old  Brahmin  beating 
out  rice.  1 called  him  and  gave  him  a Gospel.  He 
appeared  as  pleased  as  a child  with  a rattle  ; his  sides 
shook  with  hearty  and  long-continued  laughter. 

In  the  afternoon,  visited  a large  market  within  a few 
rods  of  our  tent.  Perhaps  six  hundred  people  were  pres- 
ent. Gave  tracts  to  as  many  as  desired  them  and  about 
fifty  volumes.  Many  who  apply  for  books  desire  that  a 
“large  book”  may  be  given,  and  seem  unwilling  to 
receive  any  other.  As  Brother  Noyes’s  health  was  not 
good  it  seemed  best  to  return  to  Balasore.  The  country 
which  we  visited  is  southeast  from  Balasore,  between  the 
Jagurnath  road  and  the  sea.  In  the  space  of  ten  days 
we  had  visited  twenty  different  villages  and  five  markets, 
in  which  we  had  distributed  2,500  tracts  and  150  volumes 
of  Scripture  selections.  We  pray  that  the  seed  thus  sown 
may  in  due  season  spring  up,  and  yield  an  abundant  har- 
vest. We  may  not  see  the  day,  but  we  have  reason  to 
believe  that  it  will  not  be  long  delayed. 

Although  much  the  same  program  is  carried 
out  each  cold  season,  the  incidents  and  experi- 
ences vary.  As  Dr.  Bacheler  got  the  language 
and  became  acquainted  with  the  people,  his 
interest  and  efficiency  increased.  From  a dis- 


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LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


tributer  of  tracts  and  Gospels  he  became  an 
expounder  of  the  Word,  and  gained  large  influ- 
ence among  the  natives.  So  soon  after  his 
arrival  was  Mr.  Noyes  obliged  to  leave  the 
field  that  he  felt  obliged  to  take  all  the  respon- 
sibility that  he  was  able  to  carry.  In  the 
following  cold  season  he  began  the  tent  work 
much  earlier,  leaving  Balasore  Oct.  25th,  1841. 
In  writing  of  it  he  says,  “ The  long-desired  time 
has  at  length  arrived  when  we  are  able  to  com- 
mence our  cold-season  excursions.”  He  took 
two  native  preachers,  Prasuram  and  Bhekari. 
At  first  they  went  south  of  Balasore ; found 
plenty  of  water  in  the  ricefields,  which  kept 
them  to  the  road  for  a time.  A shower  drove 
them  into  a dirty  native  house,  provided  for 
the  accommodation  of ’Hindu  pilgrims.  Of  the 
many  objections  to  breaking  caste,  and  the 
various  arguments  which  they  met,  the  follow- 
ing is  a sample. 

“ Well,  brother,  what  will  become  of  you  when 
you  die?”  asked  the  preacher. 

“ We  shall  die,  what  else  ?”  was  answered. 

“ But  have  you  not  a spirit  which  will  live 
when  the  body  is  no  more?” 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


109 


“Yes.” 

“ What  will  become  of  that  ?” 

“ It  will  inhabit  the  body  of  a horse,  a cow,  a 
reptile,  or  perhaps  a man.” 

“ Has  it  inhabited  any  animal  previous  to 
yourself  ?” 

“ Yes.” 

“ What?” 

“ I cannot  tell.” 

“ Are  you  conscious  of  any  previous  existence? 
“ No.” 

“Then  how  do  you  know  that  you  have  had 
any  previous  existence?  Or  how  do  you  know 
that  you  will  exist  hereafter  ?” 

“ The  Shasters  say  so,  that  is  all.” 

“ Very  well.  What  god  do  you  worship  ? 

“ I worship  Krishna,”  says  one. 

“ And  who  is  Krishna  ? ” 

“The  most  powerful  of  all  gods.” 

“And  is  it  not  very  hard  that  after  worshipping 
him  all  your  days  he  should  suffer  you  to  enter 
the  body  of  a horse,  when  you  can  suffer  so 
much  pain,  or  a serpent  when  you  would  always 
be  in  danger  of  being  killed?” 

But  these  arguments  frequently  seem  to  make 


110 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


littl'e  impression  even  though  the  native  con- 
fesses to  the  weakness  of  his  doctrine.  Hindu- 
ism gives  license  to  every  worldly  lust,  and 
however  vicious  the  life,  if  the  criminal  only 
repeats  the  name  of  Krishna  in  his  last  moments 
it  will  be  well  with  him. 

This  was  a short  trip  on  account  of  the  wet 
weather,  which  sickened  some  of  the  party.  On 
returning  home  the  missionary  was  met  by  a 
very  old  man,  who  inquired  how  he  might  know 
the  truth  of  what  he  had  heard.  He  was  one 
who  had  heard  some  of  the  country  preaching, 
had  received  a New  Testament,  and  become  a 
sincere  seeker.  The  way  was  made  as  clear 
to  him  as  possible,  and  he  promised  to  follow 
the  teaching  received.  Such  cases  were  not 
infrequent. 

In  December  and  January  the  party  went  out 
in  another  direction,  going  beyond  Bhadrak,  which 
is  forty-four  miles  from  Balasore,  a place  where 
for  several  years  the  mission  has  had  a perma- 
nent station.  Crossing  the  river  to  Jaiypoor, 
they  came  upon  a somewhat  dilapidated  Moham- 
medan mosque,  built  of  hewn  granite,  upon 
which  were  inscriptions  stating  that  the  mosque 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


111 


was  built  one  thousand  and  five  or  six  hundred 
years  before.  Not  far  from  this  were  Hindu 
temples  of  various  sizes,  which  were  built  long 
before  the  temple  at  Jagurnath,  and  tradition 
claimed  that  they  were  built  in  one  night. 
Without  doubt  that  place  contained  some  of 
the  most  ancient  specimens  of  Hindu  archi- 
tecture in  the  country.  Everywhere  there  was 
eagerness  for  tracts  and  the  Gospels  ; every- 
where there  were  more  or  less  attentive  listeners, 
and  everywhere  there  was  some  seriousness  and 
questioning.  This  was  an  extensive  tour  full 
of  varied  experiences. 

On  Jan.  8th  a tiger  paid  them  a visit  in  the 
night  and  severely  bit  one  of  the  oxen,  which 
was  tied  beside  the  tent.  The  ox  was  a very 
small  one,  and  the  tiger  evidently  intended  to 
carry  him  off ; but  the  noise  awakened  the 
men  who  were  sleeping  near  by,  and  the  tiger 
departed  quietly  for  his  own  preservation.  On 
leaving  that  place  they  travelled  through  jungle 
and  tall  grass  for  eight  miles,  resting  beneath 
a large  tree  during  the  heat  of  the  day,  but 
hastening  away  when  the  villagers  told  them 
that  tigers  were  very  numerous  in  that  locality, 


112 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


especially  when  they  corroborated  these  state- 
ments by  examining  the  tracks  in  the  sand. 

Jan.  13th  they  pitched  their  tent  at  Borassy,  a 
Santal  village  containing  about  three  hundred 
people.  This  was  among  Dr.  Bacheler’s  first 
experiences  with  the  Santals,  a people  in  whom 
he  became  deeply  interested,  and  for  whom  he 
did  much  during  his  connection  with  the  mission. 
On  the  day  of  their  arrival  the  Santals  held 
their  great  annual  dance.  Not  less  than  two 
thousand  of  them  were  present,  besides  many 
Oriyas  as  spectators.  The  dance  was  held  in 
the  open  field.  Ten  or  twelve  large  circles  of 
men  and  women  were  formed,  each  circle  having 
a separate  band  of  music,  consisting  of  three 
or  four  drums  and  fifes.  The  musicians  were 
in  the  centre  of  the  circle,  and  around  them 
the  company  danced  at  a slow,  hitching  pace. 
At  night  the  company  dispersed  ; those  who  had 
come  from  neighboring  villages  to  their  homes, 
while  the  villagers  continued  their  dancing  in 
different  parts  of  the  village  until  late  in  the 
evening.  “ These  people  are  much  more  numer- 
ous here  than  I expected,”  said  Dr.  Bacheler. 
“ This  company  of  two  thousand  people  had 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


113 


assembled  from  villages  within  six  or  eight 
miles  of  this  place;  and  probably  not  more  than 
one-half  the  population  attended  this  dance.” 

At  this  place  two  intelligent  (?)  Brahmins 
troubled  the  preachers  by  their  turbulent  and  bois- 
terous meddling.  They  contended  that  every- 
thing was  God,  and  that  “ the  Sahib  is  white, 
and  wise,  and  true,  and  therefore  a great  god, 
but  we  poor,  black  liars  are  small  gods,  and 
the  animals  are  smaller  gods  still ; but  we  are 
all  gods.  Therefore,  in  obeying  the  impulses 
of  our  nature,  we  obey  the  laws  of  God.” 
“Well,”  says  Bhekari,  “you  say  that  you  are. 
God  ; then  let  me  see  you  make  one  little  ant ! 
Again,  you  say  that  we  are  all  God,  and  God  is 
one.  Yet  here  are  perhaps  fifty  persons  and 
no  two  think  alike.  Again,  all  animals  are 
God  ; some  you  kill  and  eat ; then  you  kill  and 
eat  God.”  The  argument  changed  their  thought 
and  they  soon  departed  with  a good  company  of 
more  sober  people. 

At  Managobindapoor  they  found  a man  who 
had  been  bitten  by  a bear,  a sad  object  indeed. 
One  eye  was  destroyed,  his  face,  arms,  and  legs 
dreadfully  mangled.  His  putrefying  sores  had 


114 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


not  been  dressed.  He  had  been  permitted  to 
lie  for  more  than  a week  in  blood  and  filth 
without  even  the  washing  of  water.  Dr.  Bach- 
eler  removed  the  injured  eye,  had  the  man 
washed,  and  in  a few  hours  experienced  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  him  quite  comfortable.  This 
created  much  interest.  People  afflicted  with 
various  diseases  came  to  “get  mended.”  A 
blind  woman  over  one  hundred  years  old  called 
to  get  her  eyesight  restored.  The  villagers  sent 
the  native  preachers  to  ask  if  when  a man  had 
lost  an  eye  the  Doctor  could  not  supply  a new 
one.  This  interest  and  curiosity  made  it  easy 
to  present  the  Gospel,  which  quite  disturbed 
the  religious  teachers  and  set  them  to  fabricating 
a story  to  hold  the  people.  They  said  that  a 
few  days  before,  their  goddess  Luckeram  informed 
them  that  whoever  went  out  of  the  village  in  a 
certain  direction  would  have  his  eyes  torn  out 
by  a bear,  and  that  this  young  man,  disregarding 
the  predictions  of  the  goddess,  had  suffered  the 
painful  consequences.  Bhekari  replied  that  if 
she  had  foretold  this,  and  it  had  come  to  pass, 
then  she  could  now  tell  where  the  bear  was, 
and  we  would  go  and  kill  it.  They  replied  that 


BAZAAR  PREACHING 


115 


she  could,  and  that  with  four  annas  they  would 
make  an  offering,  and  obtain  the  desired  informa- 
tion. The  money  was  counted  out  on  the  con- 
ditions that  the  offering  should  be  made  during 
the  day,  and  if  they  did  not  obtain  an  answer 
they  should  renounce  their  worship  of  the  god- 
dess. All  agreed  to  this;  but  those  who  had 
deceived  the  people,  perceiving  that  they  had 
been  caught,  and  knowing  what  the  result  would 
be,  refused  to  take  the  money  away.  They 
were  wiser  than  the  prophets  of  Baal  before 
Elijah.  In  heathen  as  well  as  in  Christian  lands, 
not  only  are  there  those  who  labor  to  deceive, 
but  also  those  who  love  to  be  deceived. 


CHAPTER  V 


COLD-SEASON  WORK  — THE  QUESTION  OF 
SERVANTS  — THE  DISPENSARY  — MANY 
SUGGESTIONS. 

Dr.  Bacheler’S  longest  cold-season  trip  seems 
to  have  been  for  about  four  months.  He  says  : — 

“ It  led  through  regions  before  unexplored. 
During  the  trip  I visited  the  territories  of  twelve 
native  rajahs.  There  were  some  three  hundred 
miles  of  wild  mountain  country,  with  much 
dense  forest,  where  tigers  and  bears  abounded, 
with  here  and  there  a village.  My  tent  was 
gotten  up  for  this  kind  of  work.  It  was  just 
six  feet  square,  and  so  light  that  one  man  could 
carry  it.  One  half  of  it  was  occupied  by  my 
cot,  which  was  eighteen  inches  wide,  and  my 
table  of  the  same  width,  while  the  other  half 
was  occupied  at  night  by  the  native  preacher. 

“ The  trip  was  altogether  very  interesting. 
It  took  me  to  Sumbhulpore,  the  station  first 
occupied  by  our  missionaries,  to  which  I expected 
to  go  when  I left  America.  I had  taken  my 


COLD-SEASON  WORK 


117 


coolies  — hired  men  — from  Jellasore,  and  it  was 
not  many  days  before  we  had  reached  what  they 
had  ever  considered  ‘ the  jumping-off  place  ’ of 
the  world.  They  had  determined,  so  I heard, 
that  they  would  go  no  further  into  the  unknown 
regions  beyond,  but  they  did  go  a hundred  miles 
beyond,  and  then  rose  in  opsn  mutiny.  They 
were  very  obstinate  for  a time,  but  I reminded 
them  that  we  had  already  come  through  a very 
dangerous  country  infested  with  tigers,  and  that 
if  they  attempted  to  return  alone,  they  would 
very  likely  be  eaten  up,  and  never  see  their 
wives  and  children  more.  And  then  how  could 
1 account  to  them  — their  wives  and  children  — 
for  having  led  them  away  to  perish  in  the 
jungles  ? 1 promised  them  that  if  they  would  go 

on  1 would  take  them  all  home  in  safety. 

“ After  some  deliberation  they  concluded  that 
it  was  best  to  go  on,  and  there  was  no  more 
trouble.  As  I took  them  to  several  sacred  places, 
including  a visit  to  Jagurnath  at  Puri,  they  were 
very  enthusiastic  in  pouring  blessings  on  my 
head,  after  they  had  safely  reached  their  homes. 
It  was  on  this  journey  that  I heard  the  first  and 
only  Mohammedan  prayer  of  my  life.  We  had 


118 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


made  a long  stage,  it  was  late,  and  all  were 
tired,  when  we  reached  a few  huts  in  the  forest, 
one  of  which  we  took  possession  of  for  the 
night.  The  Mohammedan  cook  got  me  a tea 
and  1 went  to  bed.  He  came  in  shortly,  too 
tired  to  cook  for  himself,  and,  wrapping  his 
blanket  about  him,  threw  himself  onto  the  floor, 
and  as  he  was  falling  cried  out,  ‘ Ya,  Alla,  hia 
hum  sut  a hai,’  (‘  O Lord,  1 am  going  to  sleep 
here’)  ; meaning,  ‘ If  1 am  wanted,  you  know 
where  to  find  me.’  1 have  heard  many  Moham- 
medan prayers,  but  never  before  or  since  have 
1 heard  one  that  had  any  point  to  it.” 

Concerning  Bazaar  and  Camp  preaching.  Dr. 
Bacheler  says  : — 

“ Some  missionaries  have  doubted  whether 
these  methods  have  been  or  are  most  successful 
in  the  conversion  of  souls.  My  idea  is  that 
they  serve  as  the  great  advertising  medium  to 
show  far  and  near  what  true  Christianity  is. 
Other  methods  are  local  and  cannot  reach  the 
masses  as  these  two  methods  do.  The  great 
change  in  public  sentiment  in  the  last  fifty  years 
is  due  largely  to  Bazaar  preaching  and  itinerating 
in  the  cold  season.” 


COLD-SEASON  WORK 


119 


Sumbhulpore,  which  he  mentions  in  his  account 
of  this  itinerary,  was  of  special  interest  to  him, 
not  only  because  he  expected  to  locate  there 
when  he  left  America,  but  also  because  of  the 
experiences  of  the  families  of  Mr.  Noyes  and 
Mr.  Phillips.  Here  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Noyes  buried 
a child  ; here  they  themselves  were  brought  near 
to  death’s  door ; and  here  they  waited  until, 
after  regaining  sufficient  strength,  they  were 
placed  in  a boat  and  floated  down  to  Cuttack. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  had  a more  distressing 
time.  A few  days  after  consigning  their  infant 
child  to  the  grave,  Mrs.  Phillips  followed  it. 
The  bereaved  husband  with  six  native  children 
was  left  to  prepare  the  body  for  the  grave,  and 
to  lay  it  away  in  that  far-off  land,  to  wait  the 
resurrection  morning.  She  did  what  she  could 
and  left  a testimony  of  loyalty  to  Jesus  not  soon 
to  be  forgotten.  All  of  her  possessions  she  gave 
to  the  mission,  and  said  : “ Had  I thousands  of 
gold  and  of  silver  I would  lay  it  all  on  the  altar  of 
missions  to  the  last  mite.”  The  disconsolate 
husband  went  from  her  grave  to  his  bed,  to 
struggle  with  fever,  and  when  life  was  faintly 
lingering,  he,  too,  was  put  into  a boat,  and 
floated  down  to  Cuttack. 


120 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


It  is  not  strange,  then,  that  when  Dr.  Bacheler 
visited  Sumbhulpore,  one  of  his  first  acts  was 
to  seek  out  the  grave  of  Mrs.  J.  Phillips.  The 
place  was  not  difficult  to  find,  as  a substantial 
stone  monument  had  been  erected  over  it  soon 
after  her  death.  He  says  : — 

“ I pitfhed  my  tent  in  a beautiful  mango 
grove  near  the  grave.  The  moon  was  at  its 
full,  the  evenings  were  delightful,  and  I often 
spent  them  in  solitary  musings  at  the  monument. 
The  Coles,  who  inhabit  a small  hamlet  close  by, 
often  came  out  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  my 
loitering  about  a grave  at  such  a time.  They, 
no  doubt,  thought  me  a singular  being,  as  they 
look  upon  the  resting-place  of  the  dead  only 
with  feelings  of  horror. 

“ The  grave  was  but  a few  rods  from  Brother 
Phillips’s  house,  of  which  nothing  now  remains 
but  a heap  of  dirt  and  a few  loose  stones  to  mark 
the  spot.  That  of  Brother  Noyes  was  at  the 
other  end  of  the  town,  half  a mile  distant.  The 
site  is  now  occupied  by  a small  village,  a portion 
of  the  brick  floor  still  remaining,  on  which  stands 
a small  native  hospital. 

“ I had  not  been  long  in  the  place  before  1 


COLD-SEASON  WORK 


121 


had  ample  proof  that,  though  our  brethren  had 
been  absent  more  than  eight  years,  neither 
they  nor  their  instructions  were  forgotten.  One 
interesting  young  man,  who  had  received  a New 
Testament  from  Brother  Noyes,  which  he  had 
lost  by  the  burning  of  his  house,  besought  me 
to  supply  him  with  another.  One  man  had 
received  two  or  three  tracts  from  Brother  Phillips 
which  he  had  carefully  kept  ; and,  to  convince 
me  that  his  statement  was  true,  he  repeated  a 
considerable  portion  of  one  of  them.  And  most 
were  familiar  with  the  instructions  of  those  who 
taught  them  the  worship  of  the  Nirakara,  or 
God  without  form.  As  our  brethren  were  but 
imperfectly  acquainted  with  the  language  at  the 
time  of  their  residence  here,  and  labored  under 
many  severe  trials,  1 did  not  expect  to  find  any 
remains  of  their  influence.  But  in  this  I was 
most  happily  disappointed,  as  I found  that  their 
instructions  were  as  fresh  in  the  minds  of  the 
people  as  though  they  had  been  absent  but  a 
few  months,  instead  of  eight  years.”  (“  Hindu- 
ism and  Christianity  in  Orissa,”  1856.) 

Such  glimpses  of  the  work,  the  care,  the 
hardships  of  the  missionaries’  life,  lead  us  to 


122 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


conclude  that  superior  wisdom,  combined  with  a 
very  healthful  body  and  a consecrated  spirit, 
kept  Dr.  Bacheler  active  and  efficient  to  an 
unusual  degree  throughout  his  busy  career. 

During  the  writer’s  acquaintance  with  Dr. 
Bacheler  we  saw  him  under  many  different 
circumstances.  His  face  as  well  as  his  spirit 
has  a lasting  impression  upon  our  mind,  but 
there  are  two  impressions  more  lasting  than 
any  others.  One  was  made  by  that  master 
word-painter,  Prof.  J.  Fullonton,  D.  D.,  when 
in  ’86  Dr.  Bacheler  returned  to  India,  and  in 

t 

The  Morning  Star  he  described  the  veteran 
missionary  as  standing  on  the  prow  of  the  ship 
in  mid-ocean  gazing  eagerly  toward  India,  the 
land  of  his  devotion,  impatient  to  renew  the 
conflict  with  idolatry,  because  there  were  no 
young  men  ready  to  go.  The  other  we  caught 
of  him  when  he  was  out  for  cold-season  work  ; 
it  was  at  Narayanghur,  a few  miles  north  of 
Dantoon.  We  were  working  our  way  up  through 
the  mission  from  Chandbali  to  Midnapore  and 
expected  to  meet  Dr.  Bacheler  and  Rev.  M.  C. 
Miner  in  their  tent  beyond  the  village  where 
they  were  then  located.  But  when  we  came 


COLD-SEASON  WORK 


123 


in  sight  of  the  dak  bungalow,  there  was  our 
missionary  Nestor,  pacing  up  and  down  the 
veranda,  occasionally  glancing  down  the  road 
over  which  we  were  expected.  His  topi  covered 
his  gray  hair,  and  shaded  his  ruddy  face,  — a 
face  strong  with  purpose,  mellow  with  devotion 
to  God  and  love  for  mankind,  now  beaming  with 
hearty,  almost  unspeakable  welcome.  These 
are  our  favorite  portraits  of  this  “grand  old 
man.” 

At  this  place  we  had  a taste  of  Indian  camp 
life ; hard  bread  and  jam,  eggs,  and  “ Auntie 
Bacheler’s”  spiced  beef  supplied  our  table, 
while  evening  furnished  an  opportunity  for 
speaking  to  those  who  gathered  at  the  tent  door, 
to  hear  the  Word  of  Life. 

From  this  place  we  too  went  away,  as  the 
missionary  had  often  done,  praying  that  the 
good  seed  might  fall  upon  good  ground,  take 
root,  and  bear  fruit. 

It  will  be  of  much  interest  to  insert  here 
extracts  of  communications  from  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Bacheler.  Under  date  of  Jan.  4,  1841,  Mrs. 
Bacheler  writes  as  follows  to  Mr.  Mack,  the 
Corresponding  Secretary  : — 


124 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


We  have  been  permitted  by  the  goodness  of  our 
Heavenly  Father  to  see  the  commencement  of  another 
year.  Although  we  have  been  afflicted  we  realize  it 
was  for  our  good.  I have  been  brought  to  the  borders 
of  the  grave,  and  when  all  human  aid  failed,  and  hope 
was  gone,  I have  been  raised  up  to  health,  and  feel  that  it 
was  done  by  the  power  of  God,  and  I trust  for  some  wise 
purpose,  and  that  I may  be  enabled  to  do  his  will  alone. 

Jan.  ist.  We  left  Balasore  early  for  Jellasore,  in 
company  with  Sister  Cummings.  Mr.  Bacheler  had 
traveled  with  Mr.  Noyes  ten  days,  but  his  [Noyes’s] 
health  was  so  feeble  they  thought  it  advisable  for  him 
to  stay  out  no  longer,  and  as  Brother  Phillips  could  not 
leave  home  without  some  one  to  take  the  care  while  he 
was  out,  we  have  come  to  take  charge  while  he  and  Mr. 
Bacheler  travel  in  the  jungle,  which  affords  a fine  oppor- 
tunity for  him  to  learn  the  language.  We  had  a very 
pleasant  journey,  passing  through  a number  of  villages 
beautifully  ornamented  with  trees  of  a very  large  size, 
covered  with  the  deepest  verdure,  though  in  the  middle 
of  winter.  We  arrived  here  before  sundown,  with  renewed 
strength.  The  following  Sabbath  we  had  worship  both 
in  English  and  Oriya,  and  enjoyed  the  communion  with 
the  native  Christians  very  much.  On  the  first  of  the 
week  they  [Phillips  and  Bacheler]  made  preparations 
for  leaving  us  to  go  on  a preaching  excursion  in  the 
jungle. 

While  they  are  out  we  take  charge  of  the  things  at 
home  — a school  of  twenty-six  children,  with  a native 
teacher,  besides  a number  of  native  Christians,  who  are 
to  be  taught  to  read  and  write,  and  the  girls  to  sew,  take 
care  of  their  clothing  and  food,  to  see  that  they  keep 
their  rooms  clean,  bathe  every  day,  and  attend  to  their 
devotions.  Brother  Phillips’s  houses  for  the  children 
and  schoolhouses  are  the  best  of  the  kind  I have  seen 


COLD-SEASON  WORK 


125 


in  the  country.  They  are  constructed  with  a view  to 
healthfulness. 

We  hear  from  our  folks  in  the  jungle  almost  every 
day,  and  constantly  supply  them  with  provisions,  cloth- 
ing, tracts,  and  books  for  distribution.  Brother  Phillips 
has  two  healthy  little  boys  now  about  a year  old  [James 
L.  and  John].  He  is  calculating  to  be  married  after  his 
present  excursion  is  over,  and  1 know  of  no  place  where 
Sister  Cummings  will  be  more  useful  ; for  it  is  very 
little  that  an  unmarried  female  can  do  in  this  country. 
It  appears  to  me  altogether  improper  for  one  to  come 
without  parents  to  protect  them,  even  if  she  is  a pious, 
devoted  Christian,  and  has  taken  care  of  herself  at 
home.  The  English  people  all  suppose  when  they  hear 
of  the  arrival  of  a young  lady  that  she  has  come  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  getting  a husband. 

Before  we  arrived  at  Balasore  one  of  the  government 
officials  had  been  to  Sister  Noyes,  and  wished  to  be  intro- 
duced to  Sister  Cummings  when  she  should  come.  The 
natives,  also,  are  particular  to  inquire  if  a female  is  mar- 
ried ; they  think  it  impossible  for  them  to  be  pure  unless 
they  are,  as  that  is  the  case  among  themselves.  She 
must  keep  herself  mostly  out  of  sight,  for  should  she 
go  out  alone,  she  would  expose  herself  to  censure  from 
the  English.  On  board  ship  she  needs  a protector,  for 
it  is  not  a very  common  thing  for  ladies  to  go  such  long 
voyages.  A woman’s  greatest  work  is  to  take  care  of 
everything  at  home,  and  do  all  she  can  to  prevent  her 
husband’s  being  called  from  his  studies.  It  is  so  univer- 
sally the  custom  for  her  to  do  the  work  that  usually 
devolves  on  the  husband  in  America,  that  a native  never 
thinks  of  going  to  a Sahib,  unless  sent  for  something. 
They  take  care  of  schools  so  far  as  circumstances  will 
permit.  Our  example  in  neatness  and  industry  will  do 
much  to  raise  them  from  their  degraded  condition. 


126 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


After  all  I had  read  and  heard  concerning  the  natives 
of  this  country,  1 knew  nothing  comparatively  until  I 
came  here-  It  requires  much  patience  and  grace  to  live 
among  them  as  we  ought,  and  if  we  thought  of  their 
wickedness  as  we  do  of  the  people  at  home,  we  could 
not  love  them  sufficiently  to  do  them  much  good.  But 
we  consider  their  ignorant,  degraded  state,  and  our  souls 
are  drawn  out  in  compassion  toward  them,  and  instead  of 
loving  them  less,  by  seeing  their  miserable  situation  I 
love  them  more.  One  would  suppose  there  was  no  such 
thing  as  gratitude  in  a native’s  heart,  but  the  native 
Christians  show  in  a singular  degree  what  they  would  be, 
were  the  precepts  of  Christianity  universally  believed 
and  practiced  among  them. 

There  are  a number  of  inquirers  at  Jellasore  and  Bal- 
asore,  and  some  we  humbly  trust  have  of  late  given 
their  hearts  to  God.  They  are  very  interesting,  and  give 
us  great  encouragement  to  labor  with  this  people.  They 
show  that  they  have  intellects  which  only  need  cultivation 
to  make  them  members,  useful  members  and  ornaments 
of  society. 

Brother  Phillips,  when  at  home,  converses  daily  with 
the  children.  This  makes  them  appear  much  more  intelli- 
gent. By  taking  these  children  out  of  the  jungles  and 
bringing  them  up  to  Christian  principles,  the  best  way 
seems  to  have  been  found  for  introducing  them  to  Chris- 
tianity. They  have  to-day  sent  us  home  a fine,  bright- 
looking  little  boy. 

At  this  time  Dr.  Bacheler  pleads  for  money 
for  schools,  declaring  that  schools  will  not  inter- 
fere with  other  work,  as  the  missionaries  can 
preach  as  much,  distribute  as  many  tracts, 
travel  as  far,  having  schools,  as  though  there 


COLD-SEASON  WORK 


127 


were  none.  He  pleads  that  the  missionaries  are 
supported  at  great  expense  and  wish  to  earn  the 
money  paid  them  ; that  if  they  are  faithful  in  their 
work,  their  lives  must  sooner  or  later  be  sacri- 
ficed, and  that  it  seemed  a pity  that  they  should 
not  have  the  means  by  which  the  sacrifice 
should  bring  large  returns.  He  expresses  the 
hope  that  the  Board  will  direct  them  to  take 
all  the  children  they  can  get  and  do  their  best 
with  them. 

Under  date  of  Dec.  19,  1841,  Dr.  Bacheler 
replies  to  Mr.  Mack,  the  Secretary,  explaining 
to  the  home  Board  why  so  many  servants  were 
required  by  the  missionaries  in  India.  As  the 
same  question  often  arises  on  the  part  of  those 
unacquainted  with  East  Indian  conditions  and 
customs,  it  seems  well  to  insert  the  explanations 
here.  He  says  : — 

“The  reason  why  Europeans  are  not  able 
to  do  their  own  work  is  not  because  they  are 
not  strong,  but  because  the  debilitating  effects 
of  the  climate  are  such  that  they  cannot  exert 
their  strength  any  continuous  length  of  time, 
especially  when  exertion  is  required  in  the  sun. 
There  is  nothing  in  this  country  so  destructive 


128 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


to  life  and  health  as  exposure  to  the  direct  rays 
of  the  sun,  and  a large  portion  of  Europeans  die 
here,  in  consequence  of  such  exposure.  Thus 
although  a white  man  may  be  able  to  lift  as  much 
as  two  or  three  natives,  and  flog  eight  or  ten  of 
them,  a few  hours’  exposure  to  the  sun  would 
result  in  serious  injury,  if  not  in  death.  When 
we  speak,  therefore,  of  a European  as  being 
superior  to  a native  in  strength,  we  do  not 
mean  that  he  can  dig  in  the  sun  as  long,  sleep 
on  the  ground  as  well,  and  endure  the  same 
exposure  that  the  native  endures  ; this  would 
kill  him  at  once;  but  we  mean  that  in  cases  of 
emergency  he  can  do  much  more,  and  this  in 
circumstances  when  the  disadvantages  of  a for- 
eign climate  are  not  against  him. 

“Another  reason  why  a man  cannot  do  all 
his  work  is,  that  there  is  so  much  more  to  do. 
When  you  can  buy  nothing  but  raw  meat,  and 
must  make  everything,  of  course  the  labor  is 
much  greater  than  in  a country  of  mechanics 
and  farmers,  where  you  can  purchase  every- 
thing ready  made. 

“ You  ask,  ‘ How  many  servants  are  required 
in  India  to  make  a missionary  most  like  Christ, 


COLD-SEASON  WORK 


129 


and,  of  course,  most  successful  in  his  ministry?’ 
I answer,  According  to  your  idea  of  servants, 
none  at  all.  Should , you  ask,  ‘ How  much 
manual  assistance  does  a missionary  need?’  I 
would  reply,  as  much  as  would  enable  him  to 
devote  his  whole  time  to  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry. One  native  can  do  but  little  work,  and 
we  have  found  the  following  assistants  necessary  : 
(i)  A man  to  cut  grass  for  the  horse,  and  cook 
his  grain,  etc.  (2)  A man  to  do  our  cooking, 
etc.  (3)  A man  to  take  care  of  the  house,  clean 
the  furniture  and  books,  destroy  the  insects 
and  reptiles  which  are  constantly  collecting,  do 
errands,  purchase  provisions,  etc.  (4)  A woman 
to  clean  the  house  daily  as  wed  as  clean  up 
around  it,  to  do  anything  needed  to  be  done 
which  others  will  not  do.  While  we  have  a 
garden,  we  have  a man  to  take  care  of  that. 
Few  if  any  people  here  do  with  so  few  persons 
to  assist  them.  Yet  we  have  not  found  more 
absolutely  necessary,  probably  because  we  can 
get  more  done  for  a less  price  than  those  who 
receive  a higher  salary. 

You  doubtless  understand  that  there  is  no 
such  thing  as  community  in  India — no  reciprocal 


130 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


interchange.  In  America  if  you  want  hay  for 
your  horse  you  can  buy  it,  but  here  we  cannot 
buy  it,  and  must  have  a man  to  cut  it  daily, 
while  there  is  grass ; but  during  the  six  months 
in  which  grass  is  dried  up,  he  must  dig  it  up  by 
the  roots.  Now  you  never  think  that  the  farmer 
who  sells  you  hay  is  just  as  much  your  servant 
as  the  man  who  sells  us  grass.  So  the  man  who 
grinds  your  grain  is  just  as  much  your  servant  as 
the  man  who  sits  on  our  veranda  and  grinds 
ours.  Is  the  man  who  works  by  the  month  any 
more  a servant  than  he  who  does  the  same  work 
by  the  job  ? In  every  community  you  can  buy 
what  you  want,  but  when  there  is  no  reciprocal 
interchange  you  must  make  your  own  commu- 
nity. I will  state,  however,  for  your  comfort, 
that  all  the  missionary  families  with  whom  1 
am  acquainted  actually  perform  more  manual 
labor  than  any  minister’s  family  I ever  knew  in 
America.  I have  made  bread  and  cooked  during 
Mrs.  Bacheler’s  illness  until  I was  severely 
reproved  by  my  brethren,  who  told  me  very 
plainly  that  they  guessed  our  society  did  not 
send  me  to  India  to  cook,  when  I could  have  a 
man  to  do  it  much  better  for  two  dollars  per 
month. 


COLD-SEASON  WORK 


131 


“ Mrs.  Bacheler  has  been  obliged  to  do  so 
much  service  in  order  to  keep  ourselves  from 
going  ragged,  as  our  clothing  was  very  poorly 
made,  that  she  has  been  obliged  to  greatly 
neglect  the  language.  Now  if  our  Society  really 
wishes  us  to  ‘ leave  the  Word  of  God  and  serve 
tables/  let  them  inform  us  of  their  desire,  and 
while  we  remain  their  servants,  we  will  endeavor 
to  comply  with  their  wishes.” 

Mr.  Phillips  wrote  the  secretary  concerning 
the  same  matter  as  follows:  — 

“i.  The  heat  is  so  great  that  food  cannot 
be  kept  on  hand  as  in  a cold  climate,  but  must  be 
prepared  daily.  This  occasions  both  waste  and 
extra  labor. 

“2.  Our  perspiration  is  so  abundant  that 
our  linen  must  be  changed  three  times  a week 
and  sometimes  oftener. 

“ 3.  Every  garment  must  be  thin  and  light, 
and  hence  is  easily  destroyed. 

“4.  We  lay  up  no  hay  for  a horse  or  cow, 
and  have  to  keep  grass  cut  for  the  former.  I 
once  laughed  at  a syce  — horse-tender  — for 
the  little  work  which  he  did,  and  told  him  how 
many  horses  one  man  tends  in  America.  His  reply 


132 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


was  in  the  question,  “ Did  he  cut  grass  for  them 
all  ?’  The  syce  often  has  to  go  miles  for  his 
grass,  to  dig  it  up  by  the  roots  and  bring  it  home 
on  his  head. 

“ 5.  The  labor  of  taking  care  of  our  house 
and  its  contents  is  very  much.  The  floors  and 
walls  get  filled  with  white  ants,  which  never 
slumber.  Destruction  is  their  work.  A chest 
of  drawers  or  case  of  books  may  be  entered  and 
destroyed  in  a day.  All  provisions  must  be 
carefully  insulated  with  water,  or  they  are  filled 
with  ants.  Every  hole  and  corner  becomes  the 
habitation  of  poisonous  reptiles  and  insects. 
Indeed,  hosts  of  creeping,  jumping,  or  flying 
creatures  are  sure  to  take  up  their  abode  in 
every  neglected  place.  Everything  must  be 
cleaned  daily.  Trunks  and  boxes  must  be 
swept  under,  books  must  be  brushed,  and  cloth- 
ing attended  to  or  there  is  no  safety.  Most 
provisions  and  wood  must  be  purchased  in  small 
quantities,  and  frequently  replenished,  or  they 
would  mold  or  be  destroyed  by  insects.  Some 
time  since  1 purchased  a quantity  of  wood, 
perhaps  a quarter  of  a cord,  and  stood  it  in  my 
house  ; but  in  the  course  of  two  weeks  it  became 


COLD-SEASON  WORK 


133 


filled  with 'white  ants;  thus  we  see  that  every- 
thing must  be  purchased  in  small  quantities,  and 
preserved  with  greatest  care.” 

How  plainly  all  this  shows  us  that  it  is  difficult 
for  those  in  America  to  fully  understand  the 
conditions  in  which  the  missionaries  are  placed, 
and  that  the  best  way  is  to  secure  good,  capable 
missionaries,  and  then  trust  them. 

In  those  early  days  we  find  by  the  corre- 
spondence that  Midnapore  was  regarded  by  Dr. 
Bacheler  as  a very  desirable  place  for  a mission 
station  ; that  a printing-press  was  desirable, 
though  not  absolutely  necessary ; that  often 
their  mail  was  delayed  for  a long  time  on  account 
of  the  war  in  Egypt ; that  they  hailed  with 
delight  the  proposed  establishment  of  a steamship 
line  between  Calcutta  and  Suez,  which  would 
give  better  mail  facilities,  when  they  might 
receive  The  {Morning  Star  once  a month,  two 
or  three  months  after  it  was  published ; that 
they  had  paid  forty-two  cents  for  a letter  or 
duplicate  sent  from  the  homeland  ; that  while 
they  pleaded  earnestly  for  missionaries  they 
insisted  upon  having  those  of  superior  qualities. 
Dr.  Bacheler  informed  the  Board  that  in  his 


134 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


opinion  single  women  missionaries  could  be 
useful ; that  he  had  established  a two  years’ 
course  in  medicine  for  native  Christians ; he 
stated  that  the  climate  had  a degenerating  influ- 
ence upon  the  morals  of  the  children,  and  asked 
prayers  for  them.  He  early  adopted  the  use 
of  chloroform,  and  it  made  a great  impression 
upon  the  natives  when  dangerous  operations 
could  be  performed  without  pain.  In  treating 
2,407  patients  in  one  year  he  performed  126 
surgical  operations,  removing  cataracts,  tumors, 
and  limbs.  One  day  he  operated  upon  a patien 
under  the  influence  of  chloroform,  taking  off  an 
arm.  He  had  just  received  a small  quantity  of 
chloroform  from  Calcutta,  which  cost  ten  rupees. 
An  English  government  official  witnessed  the 
operation.  Soon  after  he  left,  Dr.  Bacheler 
received  the  following  note,  with  ten  rupees 
inclosed  : — 

MY  DEAR  MR.  BACHELER:  — 

As  I do  not  think  you  or  your  Society  ought  to  pay 
for  the  benefit  derived  from  charitable  exertions  in  our 
district,  I send  my  mite,  ten  rupees,  for  the  chloroform.  I 
hope  that  your  efforts  may  be  looked  upon  by  the  natives 
as  an  incentive  to  them  to  attend  to  their  soul’s  welfare. 


CHAPTER  VI 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  — FIRST 
TWO  CHILDREN  BORN  — ILLNESS  AND 
DEATH  OF  MRS.  BACHELER. 

A VARIETY  of  work  busied  the  missionaries, 
in  ’41  Hannah  Cummings  became  Mrs.  Jeremiah 
Phillips,  and  went  with  her  husband  to  Jellasore. 
Much  time  was  devoted  to  a study  of  the  language 
by  each  of  the  newcomers.  Together  with 
this  study  and  the  care  of  her  home,  Mrs. 
Bacheler  devoted  herself  to  the  children  who 
had  been  gathered,  teaching  them  to  read,  to 
work,  and  to  love  the  true  Saviour.  Care  of 
the  native  Christians  was  constant,  though  the 
church  was  small.  In  ’42  two  houses  for  the 
children  were  finished,  each  forty-five  feet  long 
by  twelve  wide,  and  containing  three  rooms. 
They  were  enclosed  with  a shrub  fence  to  keep 
the  children  in,  and  unwelcome  visitors  out. 

Pilgrims  go  to  Puri  to  see  Jagurnath  more 
or  less  throughout  the  year,  but  in  much  larger 
numbers  during  the  rath  jatra,  or  car  festival. 


136 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


This  is  the  occasion  upon  which  Jagurnath  is 
given  his  annual  ride,  exposed  to  public  view. 
This  hideous,  armless,  limbless  piece  of  badly 
carved  and  painted  wood  is  one  of  the  most 
worshipped  images  in  India.  The  great  temple 
of  this  idol  is  at  Puri,  but  he  has  temples  in 
every  town  in  Orissa  and  Bengal.  The  rath 
jatra  occurs  in  the  last  of  June  or  in  July,  a wet 
and  unhealthful  season  of  the  year  for  pilgrims. 
In  ’42  it  occurred  or  began  on  June  21st  — the 
rath  usually  occupies  several  days.  In  all  the 
towns  in  unison  with  Jagurnath’s  festival  at 
Puri  it  is  customary  to  take  the  images  of  Jagur- 
nath from  their  temples  and  give  them  a ride. 
In  Balasore  two  cars  were  constructed  for  this 
purpose,  about  twenty  feet  square  and  thirty 
high,  made  of  rude  poles  and  placed  on  rough 
wheels,  each  car  containing  a stage  in  the  upper 
part,  on  which  the  gods  were  to  be  placed.  In 
the  afternoon  Jagurnath  and  his  sister  were 
brought  from  their  temples  in  town  and  placed 
on  the  stages  prepared  for  them.  A small 
company  assembled  ; they  dragged  the  car  a 
short  distance  — a very  lazy  affair  — and  then 
put  the  images  back  into  their  temples  to  abide 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  137 


in  dust  for  another  year.  Dr.  Bacheler  watched 
this  event,  and  saw  that  it  made  but  little 
impression  upon  the  people.  What  next  ? In 
a few  days  the  multitudes  of  pilgrims  began  to 
drift  by,  more  than  twenty  thousand  in  a day, 
until  it  was  thought  that  from  one  hundred  and 
fifty  to  two  hundred  thousand  had  passed  through 
the  town.  In  their  train  came  jackals,  dogs, 
vultures,  and  crows ; and  it  was  well,  for  the 
receptacles  for  the  sick  overflowed,  and  the 
roadsides  were  strewed  with  the  sick,  dying, 
and  dead.  The  stench  left  by  the  multitude 
was  almost  suffocating.  So  great  was  the  num- 
ber of  the  dead  at  Puri  that  the  innumerable 
beasts  and  birds  of  prey  were  able  to  devour 
but  a small  portion  of  them,  and  the  officials 
were  obliged  to  have  great  pits  dug,  into  which 
many  were  thrown  together.  As  rice  was  about 
eight  times  its  usual  price  it  was  thought  that 
the  majority  died  of  starvation.  This  was  the 
missionary’s  opportunity,  and  Dr.  Bacheler  was 
not  slow  to  see  it.  Two  native  preachers  labored 
from  morning  until  night,  preaching  and  distrib- 
uting the  Word  ; about  four  thousand  publications 
were  given  out  at  this  time. 


138 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


This  year  he  describes  his  observations  of 
the  penance  of  hook-swinging,  extensively  prac- 
tised by  the  Oriyas.  He  had  then  seen  four 
exhibitions  in  different  parts  of  Balasore.  He 
says : — 

“ The  swinging  grounds  were  without  the 
city,  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  In  the  centre 
was  a post  twenty  feet  in  height,  surmounted 
by  a pole  about  thirty  feet  in  length,  turning 
upon  it  horizontally.  A dense  crowd  surrounded 
the  post,  and  filled  the  street,  while  the  tops 
of  the  neighboring  houses  were  covered  with 
anxious  spectators.  The  victims,  fantastically 
dressed  and  painted,  soon  appeared,  preceded 
by  a band  of  music,  and  followed  by  the  crowd. 
After  dancing  about  for  a while,  the  hooks  were 
inserted.  The  subject  hung  over  the  shoulders 
of  another,  while  the  operator  pinched  and 
raised  the  skin  of  the  upper  back,  and  then 
inserted  the  hooks,  the  rough  points  having  been 
previously  inserted  into  a pointed  canula.  The 
portion  of  skin  included  in  the  hooks  is  about 
two  inches.  A person  then  seizes  the  rope 
attached  to  the  hooks  with  one  hand,  and  with 
the  other  hand,  pressed  against  the  back,  draws 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  139 


the  skin  to  its  utmost  tension.  In  this  state  they 
jump  and  dance  about,  shouting  and  drawling, 
more  like  demons  than  human  beings.  This 
done,  the  ropes  are  attached  to  the  horizontal 
pole,  while  several  people  seize  the  rope  attached 
to  the  opposite  extremity,  raise  the  victim  into 
the  air,  and  turn  him  round  with  the  greatest 
rapidity.  Sometimes  he  takes  a shovel,  with 
the  pointed  handle  piercing  his  side,  constantly 
heated  with  burning  pitch  and  other  combustible 
material.  In  the  cases  which  I have  witnessed 
I have  seen  nothing  positively  indicative  of  pain. 
They  have  generally  endured  all  with  the  most 
unflinching  fortitude.  While  swinging,  they 
usually  halloo,  talk,  laugh,  sing,  eat  fruit  and 
sweetmeats,  and  distribute  the  same  among 
the  crowd. 

“ Sometime  previous  to  swinging  they  undergo 
a fiery  ordeal.  The  subject  is  tied  up  to  the 
trunk  of  a tree  by  the  feet,  and  a fire  is  built 
under  the  head  ; here  he  is  smoked  and  warmed 
for  awhile.  Last  night  an  accident  occurred. 
A man  had  been  hanging  up  as  usual,  but  as 
his  friends  were  taking  him  down,  he  slipped 
from  their  hands  into  the  fire,  and  was  so  severely 


140 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


burned  that  he  was  necessarily  excused  from 
service  to-day.  I have  inquired  the  object  of 
this  pujah,  but  have  not  ascertained  anything 
definite.  Some  say  it  is  the  performance  of  a 
vow  made  by  the  parents  before  the  birth  of  the 
individual  ; others  that  it  is  the  performance  of  a 
vow  made  by  the  individual  himself  ; others  that 
the  individual  is  lured  to  perform  the  vow  of 
another.  These  vows  are  made  to  Mahadabe 
with  the  expectation  that  he  will  bestow  a 
temporal  blessing,  such  as  children  or  property. 
But  1 have  inquired  of  several  who  have  swung, 
and  they  do  not  acknowledge  any  vow  or  any 
intentional  act  of  worship.  One  man,  of  whom 
1 purchased  a pair  of  hooks,  and  who  had  swung 
for  ten  successive  years,  declared  that  he  had 
received  nothing  but  a little  pain,  a few  pice,  and 
sweetmeats.  Another,  who  had  swung  four  or 
five  times,  says  that  he  suffered  a little  pain, 
swelled  up  under  the  arms,  and  got  a few 
presents. 

“ From  all  1 could  learn  1 have  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  principal  thing  is  sport.  As 
many  people  in  our  own  country  attend  balls, 
feasts,  and  celebrations  for  the  pleasure  which 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  141 


they  afford,  so  the  Hindus,  less  refined  in  taste, 
perhaps,  undergo  self-torture  of  the  most  painful 
description  that  the  multitudes  beholding  may 
laugh.” 

Only  low-caste  men  are  permitted  to  swing, 
consequently  a man  of  high  caste  must  hire 
another  to  swing  for  him.  From  ten  to  twenty- 
five  cents  is  considered  proper  compensation 
for  such  a service. 

As  Dr.  Bacheler  was  permitted  to  mingle  with 
the  Santals  his  interest  in  them  increased.  He 
was  impressed  with  three  distinguishing  points 
between  them  and  the  Hindus.  He  saw  that 
while  the  quintessence  of  Hinduism  is  licentious- 
ness, the  crime  of  adultery  is  rare  among  the 
Santals,  and  that  it  is  severely  punished  ; that 
while  Hindu  women  are  kept  in  the  worst  ignor- 
ance and  degradation,  subservient  to  the  passions 
of  their  husbands,  the  Santal  women  are  the 
companions  of  their  husbands  in  their  pastimes 
and  sports  as  well  as  their  labors.  Further  he 
saw  that  while  the  Hindus  are  famous  for  dis- 
honesty, lying,  and  stealing,  the  Santals  are 
acknowledged  to  be  honest  in  all  their  dealings, 
and  not  disposed  to  steal.  They  are,  however, 


142 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


particularly  fond  of  intoxicating  drink.  Up  to 
this  time  he  had  met  about  five  thousand  of 
these  people. 

Dr.  Bacheler  was  feeling  most  keenly  the 
great  responsibility  of  the  mission.  On  the 
Sabbath,  morning  and  evening,  services  were 
held  at  his  house  and  in  the  chapel,  — in  the 
afternoon  at  the  chapel.  On  Wednesday  evening 
there  was  a prayer  meeting.  The  compound, 
only  a few  months  before  little  better  than  a 
jungle,  now  was  enlivened  by  the  presence  of 
nearly  fifty  persons.  A native  teacher  had  been 
engaged  to  take  charge  of  the  school,  so  that 
Prasuram  might  devote  himself  more  particularly 
to  preaching.  The  children  were  taught  reading, 
writing,  arithmetic,  and  geography,  during  six 
hours  of  the  day  ; nearly  all  engaged  in  manual 
labor  during  three  hours.  There  were  sixty-two 
children  to  care  for,  seven  church  members, 
eight  nominal  Christians,  with  ninety-seven  in 
the  Christian  community.  It  might  be  well  to 
state  here  that  nominal  Christians  in  India  are 
Hindus  who  have  lost  or  renounced  caste,  who 
wish  to  be  called  Christians,  and  who  attend 
Christian  worship,  but  who  are  worse  than 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  143 


common  heathen,  and  as  bad  as  sin  can  make 
them. 

Nevertheless  in  the  cold  season  of  ’43  Dr. 
Bacheler  visited  twenty-four  markets  and  thirty- 
four  villages,  distributing  with  his  helpers  888 
single  Gospels,  1,111  Scripture  selections,  and 
three  thousand  tracts.  With  a pained  heart  he 
felt  that  multitudes  had  heard  the  Gospel  for  the 
first  and  last  time.  He  was  coming  to  see  that 
there  must  be  an  efficient  native  ministry  to 
make  the  mission  effort  a success,  and  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  must  be  poured  out  upon  the  work 
and  workers.  For  these  things  he  prayed,  while 
he  united  with  Mr.  Phillips  in  a most  urgent 
appeal  to  the  Home  Board  for  re-enforcements  to 
be  sent  out.  As  usual  his  experiences  this  cold 
season  were  varied.  In  one  place  he  engaged  in 
the  following  conversation  : — 

“How  do  you  expect  to  obtain  salvation?” 
he  asked. 

“For  worshipping  the  tulsi  tree,  eating  Jagur- 
nath’s  food,”  was  the  reply. 

This  gave  opportunity  to  introduce  the  subject 
of  Jesus  Christ,  the  only  Saviour  of  men.  “ Jesus 
Christ!”  they  exclaimed;  “who  is  that?  We 


144 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


have  heard  of  Krishna,  Jagurnath,  and  others, 
but  who  is  Jesus  Christ?  We  never  heard  that 
name  before.” 

At  another  place  the  following  conversation 
occurred  as  the  missionary  and  native  preacher 
seated  themselves  on  the  veranda  of  a temple : — 
“ What  temple  is  this?  ” 

" Mahadeb’s.” 

“ What  is  Mahadeb?  ” 

" An  idol  ; what  else  ?” 

“ Is  it  wood,  or  stone,  or  mud,  or  what?” 

“ It  is  stone.” 

"Is  it  anything  else?  Has  it  any  power,  or 
can  it  do  anything?  ” 

“ No.” 

“ Then  why  do  you  worship  it  ?” 

“ Because  we  cannot  worship  what  we  cannot 
see ; therefore  we  make  idols  and  worship 
them.” 

"So,  then,  you  deny  your  Creator,  the  only 
true  God,  simply  because  you  cannot  see  Him, 
but  you  can  worship  stone,  which  according  to 
your  own  confession  has  no  power  whatever, 
because  you  can  see  it.” 

Still  another  conversation  was  carried  on  in 
the  following  manner : — 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  145 


“How  can  you  obtain  forgiveness  of  sin?’’ 
asked  Dr.  Bacheler. 

“ By  good  works,”  was  the  reply. 

“ The  law  of  God  requires  perfect  obedience. 
Can  you  render  more  than  perfect  obedience? 
How,  then,  can  you  obtain  forgiveness  for  sins 
that  are  past  ?” 

“ We  cannot  tell.” 

“ Examine  your  ten  incarnations  of  Krishna, 
in  whom  you  place  so  much  confidence  ; among 
them  all  there  is  no  Saviour.  One  came  to 
destroy  a giant,  another  to  dethrone  a king,  a 
third  to  explain  the  Bades,  and  so  on  to  the  end 
of  the  chapter,  but  not  one  word  is  said  of  any 
atoning  sacrifice  for  sin.  But  Christ  became 
incarnate  that  he  might  atone  for  sin,  and  open 
the  way  to  heaven.  Read  whatever  Shaster 
you  please,  examine  any  and  every  religious 
system,  and  you  will  find  no  other  Saviour.” 

“ We  cannot  answer  your  words.” 

Here  we  see  the  superficiality  of  Hinduism, 
some  of  the  work  which  the  missionary  must 
do,  and  how  masterful  was  Dr.  Bacheler  in  his 
intellectual  contact  with  the  native. 

His  heart  was  as  sympathetic  toward  the 


146 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


wretched  creatures  as  his  mind  was  acute  in 
dislodging  them  in  argument.  Sitting  one  day 
at  noon  on  a veranda,  waiting  for  a market  to 
gather,  he  saw  a poor,  sick  man  crawling  out 
to  a neighboring  tank  to  bathe.  A sick  Hindu 
can  bathe  if  he  is  strong  enough  to  do  any- 
thing. After  washing  himself  and  his  clothing, 
he  attempted  to  return  but  was  unable.  Unlike 
the  man  waiting  at  the  pool  to  be  put  in,  he 
wanted  to  be  taken  out.  He  called  for  assistance 
but  no  one  went  to  help.  He  wept,  but  his 
tears  moved  no  one.  Seeing  none  willing  to 
help,  Dr.  Bacheler  reproved  the  bystanders 
for  their  indifference,  but  neither  reproof  nor 
entreaty  availed.  He  actually  had  to  compel  a 
native  to  go  in  and  pull  him  out ; had  he  not 
done  so  the  man  would  probably  have  died  in  the 
tank.  Hinduism  is  merciless,  unsympathetic. 
It  is  Christ  that  “goes  down  into  the  pit.” 
Another  experience  at  this  time  helped  to 
reveal  the  true  genius  of  Hinduism,  and  the  fact 
that  a man’s  misfortunes  fail  to  entitle  him  to 
sympathy,  but  instead  make  him  the  object  of 
cruelty  and  oppression.  When  Dr.  Bacheler 
was  on  his  way  to  Bhadrak,  one  day,  an  old 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  147 


Brahmin  came  running  after  him,  his  countenance 
revealing  the  utmost  anxiety  and  distress.  He 
besought  the  missionary  to  take  pity  on  him  and 
help  him.  He  said  that  three  months  previous 
his  house  had  been  accidentally  burned,  and  the 
worst  of  the  catastrophe  was  that  a cow  was 
burned  to  death.  As  a result  he  had  lost  caste ; 
his  family  had  disowned  him  ; no  one  would 
associate  with  or  touch  him  ; the  barber  would 
not  shave  him  ; the  washer-man  would  not  wash 
his  clothes;  he  was  in  every  sense  an  outcast  — 
ostracised.  He  had  made  a pilgrimage  to  Jagur- 
nath,  and  offerings  to  the  gods,  but  without  avail. 
“ What  can  be  done  ?”  asked  the  missionary. 
With  a smile  he  said,  “ If  1 can  obtain  twenty 
rupees  with  which  to  make  a feast  for  the 
Brahmins,  they  promise  to  restore  me  to  their 
society.”  The  missionary  urged  him  to  embrace 
a better  religion,  and  left  him  to  settle  the  matter 
with  his  inhuman  brethren. 

One  day  when  a company  were  invited  to  believe 
on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  they  replied:  “We 
sit  in  our  comfortable  houses  and  enjoy  ourselves  ; 
you  are  constantly  going  about  in  your  tent. 
The  sun  scorches  you  by  day,  you  are  chilled 


148 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


by  night ; you  have  no  rest.  If  this  is  what  you 
get  by  worshipping  Christ,  we  prefer  to  worship 
Jagurnath.”  Poor  souls ! they  could  not  see 
how  the  grandest,  only  true  and  saving  religion 
in  the  world  constrained  its  sincerest  votaries  to 
voluntarily  give  themselves  for  others. 

There  were  cheering  events  by  the  way.  Mr. 
Phillips  baptized  two  at  Jellasore,  and  Dr. 
Bacheler  five  at  Balasore.  Two  of  these  were 
girls  of  fifteen,  who  had  come  to  them  a few 
years  before.  Hannah  was  the  daughter  of  a 
fisherman  who  was  very  poor.  Finding  it  diffi- 
cult to  support  his  family,  he  took  her  and  a 
brother  to  Balasore  to  sell  them,  and  with  the 

I 

price  to  buy  provisions.  Not  succeeding,  he 
turned  her  over  to  the  mission.  Lucy  was  found, 
one  cold,  blustering  night  in  November,  in  a most 
wretched  and  disgusting  condition,  hiding  behind 
one  of  the  pillars  of  the  veranda,  to  which  she 
had  come  for  shelter.  She  was  half  naked  and 
had  a dozen  maggot-filled  cavities  in  her  head, 
resulting  from  uncared-for  bruises.  Now  both 
were  clothed  and  in  their  right  mind.  There 
were  many  evidences  that  marked  impressions 
were  being  made  by  the  preached  word.  Accord- 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  149 


ing  to  the  promise,  it  would  not  return  void,  but 
it  was  apparent  that  the  mission  force  should 
be  strengthened,  and  Dr.  Bacheler  with  .Mr. 
Phillips  continued  to  urge  this  upon  the  churches 
at  home. 

Surely  this  was  more  necessary  than  the  mis- 
sionaries themselves  knew.  The  consciousness 
of  this  need  was  doubtless,  to  some  extent,  a 
premonition  of  things  to  come,  which  as  yet 
they  did  not  understand.  A shadow  was  soon 
to  fall  upon  the  little  band  ; already  the  clouds 
were  gathering  ; there  was  to  be  bereavement, 
and  sorrow,  and  loneliness. 

To  be  sure  the  mission  was  cheered  by  re-en- 
forcements in  the  persons  of  Rev.  James  C.  Dow 
and  his  wife,  who  reached  India  May  7,  1844. 
The  home  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler  was  espe- 
cially brightened  by  the  advent  of  two  promising 
children, — destined  to  provide  much  assistance 
and  comfort  to  Dr.  Bacheler  throughout  his  life, 
and  especially  during  his  last  years  — Maria 
Elizabeth,  born  Oct.  16,  1842,  and  Albert 
William,  born  July  16,  1844.  But  Mrs.  Bach- 
eler’s  health  was  rapidly  failing.  Soon  after 
reaching  Balasore  she  had  a dangerous  illness, 


150 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


resulting  from  the  exposure  endured  while  going 
from  Calcutta  to  that  place.  Her  recovery  from 
this  illness  was  rapid,  and  apparently  complete  ; 
and  from  that  time  until  her  last  illness — nearly 
four  years — she  enjoyed  uninterrupted  good 
health.  About  a month  after  the  birth  of  Albert 
she  had  an  attack  of  diarrhoea  which  resisted 
all  medicine.  At  that  time  it  was  difficult  to 
procure  suitable  nourishment  for  invalids,  and 
there  were  few  delicacies  in  that  part  of  the 
world  ; however,  the  best  was  done  for  her  that 
could  be  under  the  circumstances.  With  great 
solicitude,  plans  for  restoration  were  discussed, 
and  advice  was  asked  of  the  Home  Board.  A 
trip  to  other  countries  was  considered,  a sea 
voyage,  a return  to  the  home  land,  although  it 
was  hoped  that  restoration  would  be  found  with- 
out returning  home. 

Under  date  of  Nov.  14,  1844,  Rev.  J.  Phillips 
wrote  for  The  Morning  Star,  saying,  “Sister 
Bacheler’s  health  is  very  poor,  and  has  been  for 
several  months.”  Previous  to  this  time  Dr. 
Bacheler  had  written  home  to  the  Secretary, 
Rev.  E.  Hutchins,  stating  grave  fears  concerning 
his  wife’s  illness.  These  were  dark  days  ; his 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  151 


heart  was  burdened  for  his  wife,  his  children, 
and  for  the  mission.  In  a letter,  abstracts  from 
which  were  published  in  The  Star  Feb.  19,  1845, 
he  says  : — 

“During  this  affliction  the  concerns  of  th 
mission  lie  heavily  upon  my  mind.  At  times 
the  way  seems  dark  and  uncertain.  When  I see 
my  dear  wife  sinking,  day  after  day,  in  spite  of 
all  our  efforts,  and  I know  not  how  soon  it  may 
be  my  duty  to  leave,  for  a season  at  least,  I 
assure  you  that  1 feel  for  this  mission  as  I have 
never  felt  before.  My  work  has  been  very  inter- 
esting, and  to  leave  it  now  I should  consider  the 
greatest  misfortune  of  my  life.  But  should  duty 
call  me  hence,  what  would  become  of  the  lambs 
of  Jesus  ? My  soul  feels  for  them.  Oh,  how 
long  will  our  brethren  permit  this  interesting 
field  to  lie  exposed  ? Our  operations  are  con- 
stantly liable  to  result  in  disappointment  for  the 
want  of  more  help.  The  time  has  come  when 
another  man  should  be  sent  for  the  Balasore 
district ; we  cannot  consider  the  interests  of  our 
cause  as  safe  until  such  an  one  is  sent. 

“My  own  parish  consists  of  nearly  half  a 
million  of  souls.  After  we  have  done  our  best 


152 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


to  instruct  this  people,  what  a multitude  must 
die  as  ignorant  of  a Saviour  as  though  a Saviour 
had  never  died  for  man  ! Oh,  when  will  our 
brethren  be  prepared  to  do  their  duty  to  the 
perishing  millions  of  Hindustan  ?” 

Here  was  a double  care,  a double  solicitude 
bearing  heavily  upon  his  heart,  — his  family  and 
the  mission.  What  was  the  future  for  them? 
What  was  his  duty  to  them?  It  is  not  strange, 
under  these  circumstances,  that  while  he  sought 
for  personal  guidance,  he  also  sent  frequent  and 
urgent  appeals  for  re-enforcements.  Another 
letter  to  the  Home  Secretary  sets  forth  the 
conditions,  as  they  developed,  in  a very  plain 
way  : — 

BALASORE,  Dec.  13,  1844. 

My  Dear  brother  Hutchins:  — 

1 wrote  you  two  months  ago,  giving  some  account 
of  Mrs.  Bacheler’s  illness.  I had  hoped  long  ere  this 
to  be  able  to  report  her  entire  recovery.  In  former  years 
the  bracing  air  of  the  cold  season  has  been  sufficient  to 
restore  her,  but  this  year  we  have  been  disappointed. 
She  has  been  suffering  for  four  months  with  chronic 
dysentery,  accompanied  by  occasional  attacks  of  fever. 
Four  weeks  since,  she  had  so  far  recovered,  or  rather 
her  complaint  was  so  far  stayed,  that  we  had  strong 
hopes  of  her  rapid  and  complete  recovery.  I left  her 
for  a short  visit  to  Calcutta,  and  during  my  absence 
she  continued  to  improve,  but  just  before  my  return 


1 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  153 


experienced  an  attack  of  fever,  which  brought  her  down 
again  at  once,  and  seemed  to  destroy  all  our  fond  hopes 
of  her  recovery  here. 

1 have  consulted  with  Dr.  Dicken,  the  government 
physician  here,  and  he  gives  it  as  his  opinion  that 
there  can  be  no  hope  of  her  recovery  without  a long 
sea  voyage,  and  an  absence  of  at  least  one  year  from 
the  country,  and  advises  our  hastening  away  with  all 
possible  despatch. 

We  are  indeed  placed  in  trying  circumstances.  We 
have  served  a long  apprenticeship,  and  are  getting 
pretty  well  initiated  into  our  work.  The  trials  incident 
to  newcomers  have,  in  a measure,  passed  away.  One 
by  one  we  have  been  able  to  surround  ourselves  with 
comforts.  The  difficulties  of  the  language  have  been, 
in  a measure,  overcome.  The  preaching  of  the  Gospel 
to  a strange  people  in  a stranger  tongue,  from  being  a 
cross  has  become  a pleasure.  God  has  given  us  some 
little  fruit  of  our  labor,  over  which  we  rejoice.  A little 
band  of  native  Christians  and  orphan  children  have  been 
collected  around  us,  and  we  were  ready  to  say,  “ Here 
let  us  toil  ; here,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  let  us  die." 

But,  in  the  midst  of  all  this,  how  are  our  plans 
frustrated  and  our  fondest  hopes  destroyed  ! I fear,  I 
greatly  fear,  that  we  shall  be  obliged  to  leave  our 
interesting  field  for  a season.  Mrs.  Bacheler  feels  that 
if  her  own  life  alone  were  concerned,  she  would  prefer 
remaining  at  all  risks,  rather  than  have  me  leave  my 
work  on  her  account.  But  she  feels  for  the  little  ones 
whom  God  has  given  us  in  our  exile,  and  for  them 
she  is  anxious  to  live.  We  think,  therefore,  that  duty 
requires  us  to  do  all  we  can  for  the  preservation  of  life. 
We  are  not  as  yet  without  hope  that  the  cold  season, 
with  change  to  the  seaside,  may  do  something  toward 
restoring  the  debilitated  system  to  a measure  of  health, 


154 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


so  as  to  enable  us  to  prolong  our  stay  in  India  for  a 
while,  but  that  hope  is  very  feeble. 

We  purpose  going  to  the  seaside  next  week,  and  should 
a sea  voyage  seem  indispensable,  we  can  have  an 
opportunity  of  going  to  Calcutta  about  the  last  of  Jan- 
uary in  a salt  vessel ; but  previous  to  that  time  we  can- 
not get  away.  Should  we  find  it  necessary  to  go  to 
America,  we  shall  not  be  able  to  get  off  much  before  the 
ist  of  March.  Here  again  we  are  placed  in  another 
difficulty.  Our  babe  is  only  four  months  old,  and  for 
the  last  three  months  has  lived  almost  entirely  on  cow’s 
milk  because  the  mother  could  not  nurse  it.  To  take 
it  to  sea  at  this  early  age,  thus  depriving  it  of  all  milk, 
causes  us  to  tremble  for  the  result. 

Then,  again,  the  temporal  embarrassment  which  our 
departure  must  occasion,  both  to  ourselves  and  to  the 
Society,  is  not  among  the  least  of  our  trials. 

But  in  the  midst  of  our  afflictions  our  confidence  in 
God  is  unshaken.  In  six  troubles  he  has  been  with 
us ; in  the  seventh  he  will  not  forsake  us. 

I have  just  received  a letter  from  Brother  Phillips, 
in  which  he  suggests  that  we  might  first  try  a voyage 
to  Ceylon,  Burmah,  or  China  — anywhere  rather  than 
go  home.  My  own  judgment  favors  such  a course. 
The  only  difference  is  that  voyages  in  this  part  of  the 
world  are  so  dear  that  I hardly  dare  to  take  the  respon- 
sibility of  spending  so  much,  without  a partial  prospect 
of  obtaining  the  desired  result. 

1 can  now  call  to  mind  several  instances  of  missionaries 
going  home,  who,  as  the  result  has  shown,  might  have 
been  cured  by  a sea  voyage  to  the  Mauritius  or  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope.  Others,  with  a similar  complaint,  have 
continued  ill,  even  after  they  arrived  home.  My  impres- 
sion is  that  one-half  the  missionaries  that  go  home  might 
recover  by  a voyage  here.  But  it  is  too  often  the  case 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  155 


that  they  are  obliged  to  count  the  cost  in  dollars  and 
cents  rather  than  in  time.  A voyage  home  is  not  much 
more  expensive  than  a moderate  voyage  here,  where  if 
health  should  not  be  the  result,  friends  are  generally 
ready  to  render  assistance,  so  as  to  save  the  Society 
expense.  Still,  could  we  command  the  means,  how  much 
better  would  it  be  to  try  first  the  resources  of  this  part 
of  the  world,  with  even  a partial  prospect  of  success, 
and  only  a small  sacrifice  of  time,  rather  than  take  so 
long  a voyage  with  the  certainty  of  a loss  to  the 
mission  of  two  or  three  years  of  valuable  time.* 

We  expect  Brother  Sutton  here  to-morrow,  on  his  way 
to  Calcutta.  We  shall  endeavor  to  avail  ourselves  of 
his  valuable  experience  and  advice. 

We  have  long  felt  that  it  was  not  safe  to  go  on  with  so 
little  help.  The  moment  one  is  called  away  by  sickness 
or  death,  the  work,  in  a great  measure,  stops.  We  have 
no  reserve,  no  provision,  for  emergencies.  Can  you  not, 
dear  brother,  send  out  an  additional  family  at  once? 
No  time  is  to  be  lost.  Unless  help  arrives  soon,  our 
cause  must  suffer.  It  seems  to  me  that  a mighty  effort 
should  be  made  at  once  to  send  at  least  one  additional 
laborer  to  Orissa.  Four  years  ago  our  Society  was  able 
to  support  three  missionaries  and  a single  teacher.  Can  it 
not  do  as  much  now  ? Oh,  when  will  our  people  awake  ? 

You  will  doubtless  hear  from  us  by  next  overland  mail, 
but  ere  this  reaches  you,  it  is  possible,  yea,  it  is  quite 
probable,  that  we  shall  be  far  away,  in  search  of  health, 
unless  death  shall  have  rendered  such  a step  unnecessary. 
Oh,  may  God  enable  our  Board  to  provide  for  this 
emergency  by  sending  another  man  to  our  aid  without 
the  least  delay ! 

* The  voyage  between  India  and  the  United  States,  was  by  sailing 
vessels  and  occupied  from  four  to  six  months  ; their  business  was  to 
carry  merchandise,  and  they  sailed  infrequently. 


156 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Dec.  ii.  Brother  Sutton  is  now  with  us.  He  is 
rather  of  the  opinion  that  if  we  can  take  a voyage  to 
some  neighboring  port,  say  China  or  some  other  place, 
on  reasonable  terms,  we  had  better  do  it  rather  than 
go  home.  So,  as  yet,  our  affairs  are  entirely  unsettled. 
Pray  for  us. 

Your  as  ever, 

O.  R.  BACHELER. 

Such  was  the  devotion  of  both  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Bacheler  that  they  thought  of  their  mission  to 
the  heathen  first,  of  themselves  last,  doing  for 
themselves  only  when  absolutely  necessary, 
and  that  to  prolong  life,  for  the  sake  of  the  mis- 
sion— a devotion  which  has  probably  never 
been  surpassed  by  any  foreign  missionaries. 

In  the  meantime  a valuable  and  beloved  mis- 
sionary was  fluctuating  between  life  and  death. 
Ordinary  remedies  failed.  A government  physi- 
cian was  consulted,  who  insisted  that  only  an 
immediate  return  home  would  save  the  life.  As 
soon  as  arrangements  could  be  made  — though 
with  great  reluctance  on  her  part  — they  set  out 
for  Calcutta,  Mrs.  Bacheler  going  in  a palanquin 
and  her  husband  on  horseback.  After  stopping 
a few  days  with  Mr.  Phillips  at  Jellasore,  they 
went  on  fifty  miles  to  Midnapore.  Mrs.  Bacheler 
bore  the  journey  without  serious  inconvenience, 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  157 


but  it  was  evident  that  she  was  gradually 
growing  weaker. 

Midnapore  was  reached  on  the  1 5th  of  January, 
after  a journey  of  six  days,  including  the  stop 


DOUBLE  TABLET  AT  THE  GRAVE  OF  MRS.  BACHELER  AND  MRS. 
PHILLIPS.  OLD  CEMETERY,  MIDNAPORE. 

at  Jellasore.  A delay  was  made  at  Midnapore 
for  baggage  to  come  up,  but  she  failed  rapidly 
and  passed  away  on  the  20th.  Her  courage 


158 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


was  good  until  the  last,  and  she  consented  to 
have  the  arrangements  for  going  to  Calcutta 
countermanded  only  an  hour  or  two  before  she 
breathed  her  last.  Without  any  apparent  pain 
she  passed  away.  She  was  buried  in  the  old 
cemetery  at  Midnapore,  side  by  side  with  the 
second  wife  of  Rev.  J.  Phillips.  One  monu- 
ment, with  a double  tablet,  marks  the  grave 
of  both. 

In  the  death  of  Mrs.  Bacheler  the  mission 
sustained  a great  loss  ; to  her  husband  it  was 
a sad  blow.  She  was  a consecrated  missionary, 
a devoted  wife,  a noble  woman.  In  a letter  to 
the  Home  Secretary,  dated  Feb.  5th,  1845,  Dr. 
Bacheler  says  : — 

I doubt  not,  my  dear  brother,  you  are  better  able  to 
sympathize  in  my  present  feelings,  than  I am  to  describe 
them,  since  you  have  been  called  to  suffer  a similar 
affliction.  None  but  those  who  have  experienced  it  can 
realize  the  painful  loneliness,  the  awful  blank,  which 
one  feels  on  being  deprived  of  his  bosom  companion, 
especially  in  this  lone  land  where  friends  are  few.  With 
two  helpless  babes,  the  younger  having  but  just  reached 
its  seventh  month,  1 feel  that  mine  is  a loss  indeed,  a 
consciousness  of  which  is  at  times  almost  overwhelming. 
But  the  cup  that  is  given  me  to  drink  is  not  an  unmingled 
one.  I thank  God  that  I am  permitted  to  believe  that 
my  loss,  infinite  as  it  is,  has  proved  gain  to  her  as 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  159 


infinite.  Her  life  and  death  were  such  as  to  leave  no 
doubt  of  her  present  happiness.  Why,  then,  should  I 
mourn  her  early  departure  ? She  has  only  gone  where  I 
hope  soon  to  be,  “ where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling, 
and  the  weary  are  at  rest.”  The  warfare  of  life  with 
her  has  closed  in  victory,  and  she  now  enjoys  the  crown. 
“ Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord.” 

The  last  days  of  my  wife  were  characteristic  of  her 
life.  . . . On  the  morning  of  her  death,  perceiving  that 
the  end  was  near,  I asked  her  if  she  felt  prepared  to  go. 
She  replied,  “ I trust  I do,”  and  added,  “ 1 had  hoped  to 
live  on  account  of  my  children,  and  that  I might  serve 
God  more  faithfully,  but  the  will  of  the  Lord  be  done.  ’ 
She  spoke  also  of  the  pleasure  which  she  had  previously 
experienced  in  dedicating  the  children  to  God,  particularly 
the  elder,  and  remarked  that  she  could  but  feel  reconciled 
to  the  will  of  God  concerning  them.  Brother  Dow, 
coming  in  soon  after,  asked  if  she  felt  prepared  for  the 
great  change  which  was  about  to  take  place.  She  replied, 
“ O,  yes ; O,  yes.”  She  tried  to  say  more,  but  was 
not  able.  She  soon  after  asked  to  see  the  children.  I 
brought  them  ; we  gave  and  received  the  parting  kiss, 
and,  after  lying  silently  for  a few  minutes,  she  quietly 
breathed  back  her  spirit  into  the  bosom  of  her  God. 

How  sublime  a thing  is  the  Christian’s  death  ! The 
body,  with  all  its  pains  and  infirmities,  returns  to  its 
original  elements ; the  spirit,  encaged,  confined,  and 
cramped  in  all  its  movements,  bursts  at  once  from  its 
prison-house,  and  soars  away  untrammeled,  unconfined, 
to  bask  forever  in  the  glory  of  the  Great  Eternal.  As  1 
stood  beside  the  dying  bed  of  my  beloved  wife,  watching 
the  last  flickerings  of  life,  1 felt  as  I had  never  felt 
before.  The  fear,  the  uncertainty,  the  darkness  of  the 
“dark  valley,”  seemed  annihilated,  and  I could  look 
forward  with  pleasure  to  the  time  when  I should  be 


160 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


treading  the  same  path,  triumphing  in  the  same  conflict, 
preparing  to  receive  the  same  glorious  crown.  “ He 
who  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  Iamb  ” has  not 
forsaken  me  in  this  sore  affliction.  His  everlasting  arms 
are  my  support,  in  Him  do  I desire  to  trust. 

While  at  Midnapore  we  were  most  hospitably  enter- 
tained by  Captain  and  Mrs.  Wakefield,  with  whom 
Brother  and  Sister  Dow  were  boarding.  They  are  an 
excellent  couple,  ardently  devoted  to  the  service  of 
their  Lord,  and  great  was  the  kindness  they  showed  us 
for  the  Lord’s  sake. 

1 sincerely  hope  that  the  trying  circumstances  in  which 
our  mission  has  been  placed  have  induced  our  friends  to 
make  a strenuous  effort  to  send  out  an  additional  mis- 
sionary immediately.  A month  ago  there  was  a strong 
probability  of  my  being  under  the  necessity  of  leaving 
the  country  for  a season.  I had  left  my  station,  and 
said  farewell  to  the  dear  native  Christians,  not  knowing 
the  course  that  would  be  marked  out  for  me.  The  result 
you  already  know. 

You  have  doubtless  felt  for  us  and  for  the  mission 
in  these  trials,  but  has  anything  effectual  been  done  to 
meet  the  emergency?  If  so,  let  no  time  be  lost  in  sending 
to  our  relief.  The  Board  should  lose  no  time  in  fitting 
one  brother,  at  least,  to  be  in  the  field  by  the  next  cold 
season.  True,  the  melancholy  turn  our  affairs  have 
taken  enables  me  at  the  present  to  remain  at  my  post, 
but  I feel  like  a broken  reed,  in  whom  little  reliance 
can  be  placed.  With  two  infant  children  who  must  claim 
a considerable  portion  of  my  attention,  I feel  that  1 shall 
jiot  be  a very  efficient  missionary.  I do  beseech  our 
beloved  brethren,  therefore,  to  leave  no  means  untried, 
but  to  put  forth  every  possible  effort  to  meet  the  present 
emergency,  by  sending  reinforcements  immediately. 
Am  I too  sanguine  in  expecting  to  have  the  unspeakable 


CLOSE  CONTACT  WITH  THE  NATIVES  161 


joy  of  welcoming  one  brother  and  sister  at  least  to  the 
joys  and  sorrows  of  missionary  life  next  cold  season? 

May  God  grant  us  all  grace  to  do  and  be  resigned  to 
His  will. 

Your  afflicted  brother  in  Christ, 


O.  R.  BACHELER. 


CHAPTER  VII 

SORROW  AND  SERVICE— MISS  SARAH  P. 

MERRILL  — ANOTHER  MISSIONARY— 

THE  VOYAGE— THE  MARRIAGE 
THE  departure  of  Mrs.  Bacheler  necessitated 
changes.  The  boarding-school  children,  who 
had  been  her  especial  charge,  were  sent  to  Jella- 
sore  to  remain  for  a time,  and  the  two  Bacheler 
children  were  placed  in  the  care  of  Mrs.  Phillips 
until  other  arrangements  could  be  made.  Dr. 
Bacheler  took  up  his  work  again  as  best  he  could, 
amid  solitude  which  had  taken  the  place  of 
conjugal  love,  in  a vacant  home  where  once 
there  was  greeting,  companionship,  and  help- 
fulness. He  busied  himself  in  caring  for  the 
needs  and  sorrows  of  others.  What  a blessing 
labor  is  to  those  in  affliction  ! How  often  the 
best  remedy  for  sorrow  is  found  in  ministering 
to  the  sorrowing  ! Happy  is  he  who  can  forget 
himself  when  others  are  in  trouble.  By  con- 
sulting his  diary  and  letters,  we  find  the  thoughts 
of  our  missionary  oft  returning  to 

“ . . . The  touch  of  a vanished  hand, 

And  the  sound  of  a voice  that  is  still ! ” 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


163 


yet  he  went  bravely  forward.  It  was  in  the 
cold  season,  the  time  when  the  gospel  could 
be  taken  from  village  to  village,  market  to 
market;  when  the  scattered  children  of  the 
jungle  might  be  awakened  with  the  glad  procla- 
mation that  there  was  a living  God,  a living 
Saviour.  For  fifteen  days  from  Feb.  ist,  he 
went  out  in  this  work  so  dear  to  him.  On  the 
second  of  March  there  was  great  rejoicing  in 
the  mission  when  Gourie,  the  wife  of  Bhekari, 
a native  preacher,  was  baptized,  and  received 
into  the  Balasore  church.  A single  convert  as 
the  apparent  result  of  months  of  labor  encouraged 
them,  but  others  were  on  the  way  ; the  seed 
was  being  faithfully  sown  ; the  ground  which 
Satan  had  been  tilling  was  being  overturned. 

“Is  it  strange,”  wrote  our  missionary,  “that 
we  should  hail  with  rapture  the  first  indications 
that  the  long,  dark  night  is  drawing  to  a close  ? 
That  we  should  exult  at  the  slightest  inroads 
upon  the  possession  of  our  enemy,  when  we 
are  able  to  demonstrate  to  the  world  that 
Moloch’s  mighty  king  is  not  invincible?  . . . Our 
little  churches,  insignificant  as  they  appear, 
are  the  germs  of  promise.  From  them  an  influ- 


164 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


ence  is  going  forth  which  shall  continue  to  be 
felt,  until  the  last  star  of  the  firmament  shall 
have  ceased  its  vigils,  and  nature  shall  have 
ceased  to  be.  Let  ‘ Onward  ’ be  our  watchword, 
and  let  us  never  think  of  being  discouraged.” 
It  is  not  strange  that  God  should  signally  bless 
the  spirit  which  prompted  such  words  and  such  a 
noble  endeavor  under  such  trying  circumstances. 

Interest  in  the  mission  was  also  deepening 
in  the  home  churches.  The  appeals  for  mis- 
sionaries and  money  were  bringing  conviction. 
The  following  letter  is  from  one  whom  God 
was  preparing  to  do  a large  work  in  India  as  an 
especial  helper  to  our  missionary.  The  true 
missionary  spirit  is  manifest  in  it. 

Lowell,  Sept.  8,  1842. 

BROTHER  BURR  : — 

1 herewith  send  you  enclosed  six  dollars  for  the  Foreign 
Mission  cause.  It  is  the  avails  of  a weekly  cent  con- 
tribution in  the  juvenile  Sunday  school  of  the  first  Free- 
will Baptist  church  in  Lowell. 

The  subject  of  a missionary  box  and  contribution  was 
mentioned  in  the  school  about  six  months  ago,  and  met 
the  approval  of  teachers  and  scholars.  It  was  proposed 
that  the  children  should  bring  only  that  money  which 
their  parents  had  given  them  for  their  own  use,  and 
from  their  self-denial  they  have  contributed  this  sum 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  sit  in  darkness,  in  the  shadow 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


165 


of  moral  death.  If  the  example  of  this  Sunday  school 
were  imitated  throughout  our  denomination,  would  it 
not  promote,  in  some  considerable  degree,  this  glorious 
cause?  And  will  not  souls  rise  up  in  the  judgment  and 
bless  those  who  have  helped  rescue  them  from  an  idol- 
ater’s eternity? 

Brethren  and  sisters,  have  we  any  excuse  for  not 
considering  this  subject  in  its  true  light?  Thousands 
of  our  kindred  spirits  have  gone,  an,d  are  now  going, 
to  the  shades  of  eternal  night,  for  the  want  of  those  very 
means  which  are  needlessly  expended  in  feeding  and 
adorning  these  bodies  of  clay.  How  can  we  be  said  to 
possess  the  spirit  of  Christ,  if  our  souls  feel  not  for  the 
heathen?  What  were  the  Gentile  race  when  Christ 
our  Saviour  came  to  illumine  their  darkness — -what, 
but  superstitious,  idolatrous,  degraded  men  ? And  what 
but  the  gospel  translated  them  from  the  kingdom  of 
darkness  to  the  kingdom  of  God’s  dear  Son,  and  gave 
them  hopes  of  immortal  life  through  His  redemption, 
and  through  them  blessed  us,  their  posterity  ? 

Let  no  one  say  that  their  mite  will  avail  nothing  in 
this  immense  treasury,  for  do  not  sands  compose  the 
ocean’s  shore,  and  little  drops  fill  up  its  mighty  deep? 
And  a little  given  to  the  Lord,  if  it  be  given  in  faith 
and  love,  will  produce  results  which  eternity  alone 
can  unfold. 

S.  P.  M. 

The  writer  of  this  letter,  in  trying  to  stir 
the  interest  of  others,  was,  through  her  prayers, 
offerings,  and  labors,  being  drawn  nearer  to 
God  and  to  India,  consequently  The  Morning  Star 
of  June  3d,  1846,  announced  that  “a  female 


166 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


teacher”  would  soon  sail  for  Orissa,  India. 
The  Star  of  July  29th  announced  that  this 
missionary,  “ Miss  Sarah  P.  Merrill,  daughter 
of  Elder  Asa  Merrill,  of  Stratham,  N.  H.,”  had 
sailed  from  New  York,  in  company  with  mis- 
sionaries destined  for  China  and  Siam,  sent  out 
by  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  Board. 

It  is  proper  that  some  account  of  Miss  Mer- 
rill’s ancestry  and  early  life  should  be  given 
here.  Sarah  P.  Merrill  was  born  in  Stratham, 
N.  H.,  March  10,  1820.  She  was  the  ninth 
child  of  Asa  and  Esther  (Fowler)  Merrill.* 

In  the  earlier  part  of  life  her  parents  were 
members  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  in 
that  church  and  Sunday  school  the  first  nine 
children  were  brought  up. 

Her  father  was  ordained  a Free  Baptist  min- 
ister at  the  age  of  forty-five,  and  became  pastor 
of  a small  church  which  had  been  organized  a 
short  time  before.  The  mother  died  when 
Sarah  was  eleven  years  old.  At  the  early  age 
of  fourteen  she  went  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  to  work 

* There  were  twelve  children  : James,  who  died  in  infancy,  Nathan  L., 
Hannah  W.,  Elizabeth,  Daniel  Ford,  Phineas,  Dorothy  L.,  James  S., 
Sarah  P.,  Joseph,  Mary  A.,  and  Benjamin. 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


167 


in  the  mill,  under  the  care  of  her  next  older 
sister,  who  had  preceded  her.  After  working 
there  about  a year  she  returned  home.  At 
sixteen  she  went  to  New  Market  to  work  in  the 
mill,  boarding  at  Mrs.  Shepherd’s.  Elder  Elias 
Hutchins  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  that 
time.  By  a sermon  which  he  preached  from 
the  text,  “ Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be 
found,”  her  mind  was  very  much  awakened, 
and  she  sought  the  Lord,  but  while  others  found 
Him,  she  got  no  light,  and  gradually  lapsed 
into  a state  of  despair.  She  believed  herself 
a reprobate.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  she 
attended  Hampton  Academy  for  two  terms, 
with  her  sister,  paying  the  expenses  from  her 
own  earnings.  When  she  was  eighteen  she 
was  working  in  the  mill  at  Exeter.  There  was 
a great  awakening  in  the  church  there  at  that 
time,  and  a large  number  were  converted.  But 
she  was  without  hope  and  in  despair.  Of  her 
condition  she  says  : — 

“ 1 would  have  given  the  world  for  the  power 
to  shed  one  penitential  tear.  My  room-mate 
was  converted,  and  urged  me  to  come  to  Christ. 
One  evening  1 returned  from  meeting,  and 


168 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


cried  to  God  for  mercy.  Some  Christian  sisters 
prayed  for  me,  but  after  a time,  on  account  of 
the  severe  cold,  left  me  and  went  to  their 
beds  ; but,  insensible  to  the  cold,  1 continued 
crying  to  God.  About  midnight  1 seemed  to 
see  Jesus,  hanging  on  the  cross,  but  not  looking 
toward  me,  and  1 cried  mightily  in  my  despair. 
He  turned  and  looked  toward  me.  Suddenly 
all  was  quiet,  and  in  the  same  moment  1 thought 
, 1 was  abandoned,  and  that  the  Spirit  had  left 
me  forever.  Yet  1 had  sweet  sleep.  The  next 
morning,  with  a strange  calm,  1 sat  down  by 
the  sitting-room  stove,  and  opened  the  Bible. 
The  first  words  that  caught  my  eye  were  ‘ Praise 
the  Lord,’  and  instantly  I was  filled  with  unutter- 
able joy.  When  I went  into  the  mill  the  next 
morning,  my  associates  in  labor  looked  at  me 
curiously,  as  if  they  almost  doubted  my  identity. 
It  was  just  a week  after  this  that  1 seemed  to 
see  the  heathen  world  spread  out  before  me, 
and  recognized  that  my  life-work  would  in  some 
way  be  in  a part  of  it.  I went  to  Lowell  to 
work  in  the  mills.  In  the  winter  of  1839  1 
made  a public  profession  of  religion  and  was 
baptized  in  the  Concord  River  by  Elder  N. 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


169 


Thurston,  and  united  with  the  First  Free-will 
Baptist  Church  in  Lowell.  From  then  until 
my  twenty-third  year  1 worked  in  the  mills, 
mostly  in  Lowell,  attended  school,  and  taught. 

“In  the  years  1843,  ’44.  ’45.  I was  in  Mt. 
Holyoke  Female  Seminary,  and  sat  under  Miss 
Lyon’s  instruction.  During  this  time  1 never 
lost  sight  of  the  mission  field  as  the  place  of 
my  life-work.’’ 

Such,  briefly  stated,  are  some  of  the  facts 
concerning  the  early  life  of  Miss  Merrill.  It 
was  to  her  a happy  day  when,  late  in  1845, 
she  was  appointed  missionary  to  Orissa.  Aug. 
12,  I846,  was  yet  a happier  day,  when  she 
sailed  for  Calcutta  on  the  ship  Gulnare.  The 
voyage  occupied  five  and  one-half  months. 

The  accommodations  were  meagre.  The  cabin 
of  the  Gulnare  was  eighteen  feet  long,  ten  wide, 
and  four  and  one-half  high.  State  and  baggage 
rooms  opened  out  of  this.  Miss  Merrill’s  state- 
room was  six  feet  long,  four  wide,  and  five  and 
one-half  feet  high.  The  berth  — a box  two  and 
one  half  feet  wide  — was  fastened  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  distance  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling. 
Not  much  room  for  rolling  or  pitching,  and  not 


170 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


a large  amount  of  house-cleaning  was  possible. 
The  journal  of  Miss  Merrill,  as  kept  and  sent 
to  the  Home  Secretary,  will  be  of  interest.  It 
reads : — 

Barque  Gulnare,  Lat.  36°  39',  Long.  46°  49', 
Aug.  19,  1846. 

Dear  brother  Hutchins:  — 

We  have  been  one  week  on  the  wide  ocean.  It  seems 
like  a fleeting  dream,  and  yet  like  a long,  sad  reality. 
The  entire  week  has  been  devoted  to  sea-sickness,  every 
particular  of  which  I wish  to  forget.  Last  night,  for  the 
first  time,  1 was  able  to  take  off  my  dress,  and  to-day  1 
have  been  up  most  of  the  time.  In  health  I am  much 
in  advance  of  all  the  other  ladies.  The  wind  has  been 
favorable  ever  since  we  started.  We  have  come  one 
thousand  miles,  which  the  captain  says  is  very  well. 
Last  Saturday  night  and  Sunday  forenoon  we  were 
crossing  the  Gulf  Stream.  The  sea  was  very  rough, 
and  the  ship  pitched  and  rolled  frightfully.  We  could 
not  remain  in  our  berths,  but  sought  the  floor,  and  other 
movables  followed  our  example.  To  me  it  was  an  amus- 
ing and  distressing  night;  amusing  because  everything 
danced  round  so,  distressing  because  I was  really  sick. 

We  watched  you  on  shore  as  your  forms  gradually 
receded  from  our  view,  and  every  wave  of  each  handker- 
chief sent  an  undefined  and  indescribable  thrill  through 
all  my  soul.  It  seemed  the  last  farewell  of  my  best 
friends.  The  thought  rushed  upon  me  with  sudden 
reality  that  I was  destined  “ to  see  your  faces  in  the 
flesh  no  more  ” ; that  the  “ die  was  cast.”  1 was  really 
on  my  way  to  the  heathen.  And  should  I cast  “ one 
long,  lingering  look  behind  ” ? It  was  but  for  a moment, 
and  1 thanked  God  in  the  dust  that  He  had  permitted  me 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


171 


to  start  on  such  a glorious  errand.  The  wings  of  faith 
bore  my  spirit  away  beyond  the  bounds  of  time,  to  that 
joyful  day  when  we  shall  “ meet  again,  meet  ne’er  to 
sever.”  That  afternoon  the  missionaries  said  to  me, 
“ We  must  not  be  strangers  now,  and  you  must  not 
think  or  feel  yourselves  such.  We  will  all  be  brothers 
and  sisters,”  and  thus  far  they  have  been  so  truly. 

Aug.  20.  Since  1 saw  you  on  India  Wharf  my  heart 
has  almost  sunk  within  me.  For  the  first  few  days  I 
lay  in  my  upper  room,  sad  and  gloomy.  1 remembered 
my  friends.  One  by  one  they  came  before  me,  and 
one  by  one  I prayed  for  strength  and  faith  to  give  them 
up.  Then  my  life  and  example  appeared  to  my  mind 
with  painful  vividness  — the  influence  which  I had 
exerted  on  others- — how  unlike  a devoted  missionary’s! 
1 could  only  weep  and  pray  for  pardon,  and  straightway 
i felt  the  sweets  of  pardoning  love.  But  then  the  over- 
whelming thought  that  I had  assumed  the  fearful  respon- 
sibility of  a missionary ; that  I had  dared  to  walk  in 
the  steps  of  Mrs.  Newell  and  other  holy  women,  women 
whose  lives  and  characters  seemed  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  Christ;  whose  labors  are  blessed,  and  whose 
memories  are  precious!  It  seemed  impossible  that  such 
an  one  as  I could  really  be  permitted  to  occupy  such  a 
station  as  that  to  which  they  seemed  justly  elevated. 
And  yet  1 cannot  bring  myself  to  believe  that,  indepen- 
dent of  the  Saviour’s  guiding  hand,  i should  have  been 
here.  Surely  he  chooses  the  weak  things  of  this  world, 
and  the  smallest  and  rudest  stone  he  can  make  of  some 
use  in  his  great  building. 

Aug.  21.  Is  it  imagination,  or  do  i really  feel  the  influ- 
ence of  your  prayers  ? 1 must  name  my  little  stateroom 
r Bethel , for  I trust  it  has  been  hallowed  by  the  presence 
of  the  God  of  Jacob,  and  it  has  often  seemed  as  if  the 
spirits  of  my  dear  friends  were  mingling  with  mine 


172 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


around  the  throne  of  grace  — ascending  together  the 
ladder  that  reaches  from  earth  to  heaven.  Last  evening, 
for  the  first  time,  family  prayers  were  attended.  It 
seemed  pleasant  to  kneel  down  together  and  commit 
ourselves  to  the  care  of  Him  who  holds  the  waters  in  the 
hollow  of  His  hand  and  is  able  to  bring  us  in  safety  to 
our  destined  port.  My  heart  thrills  with  warm  emotion 
as  I am  wafted  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  poor  heathen. 

0 that  I were  even  now  with  them ! May  I be  prepared 
to  do  them  good. 

Sabbath,  Aug.  23.  Service  in  the  morning  on  deck  ; 
none  this  afternoon.  We  were  just  called  on  deck  to  see 
a ship;  it  is  very  near  us,  — within  a mile.  Sadness 
and  despondency  often  come  over  me.  1 feel  that  I am 
alone,  and  have  no  strength  or  wisdom  ; that  however 
much  1 may  need  dear  friends  or  counsellors,  1 have 
none.  Yet  the  same  voice  that  I heard  before  1 left  my 
father’s  roof  whispers  to  my  heart  most  cheeringly.  “ He 
will  send  you  another  Comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with 
you  forever,  even  the  spirit  of  truth.”  O would  this 
Comforter  take  up  his  abode  in  my  heart,  pervading  all 
its  faculties,  inspiring  all  its  motives,  prompting  all 
its  actions ! Then  should  1 indeed  be  blessed,  and  be 
prepared  to  bless  the  heathen. 

Aug.  24.  May  I adopt  the  language  of  Luther,  “ I 
seem  to  feel  that  prayer  is  being  made  for  me”?  God 
grant  that  my  going  to  the  heathen  may  bring  to  some 
hearts  the  spirit  of  missions. 

Aug.  29.  A most  lovely  eve ; 

"The  moon  is  in  the  heavens  above. 

And  the  stars  shine  on  the  foaming  sea.” 

1 wish  you  were  here  to-night  to  enjoy  this  ocean  scenery. 
The  ship  bounding  in  proud  freedom  before  the  freshening 
breeze;  the  moon  upon  the  waters,  making  a path  of 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


173 


glittering  diamonds  on  its  darkly-rolling  surface  ; and  then 
the  stars,  the  beautiful  stars  looking  down, — the  same 
that  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel  loved  so  well  to  behold.  I 
gazed  on  the  Northern  Cross  till  my  eyes  were  dimmed 
with  tears.  It  is  the  constellation  which  Sister  Elizabeth 
and  myself  years  ago  adopted  as  ours.  May  we  emulate 
its  constant  light  and  never  leave  the  course  in  our  relation 
to  the  cross  of  Christ. 

Sept.  8.  Lat.  20°  49'.  Since  1 wrote  last,  my  eyes 
and  head  have  been  much  affected,  so  that  1 could  look 
steadily  at  nothing,  and  now  I cannot  see  very  well. 

I attribute  it  to  reading  on  deck  before  I was  able  to  do  so. 
Last  Friday  eve,  the  fourth,  we  sat  on  deck  very  late, 
The  moon  and  stars  shone  brightly,  and  there  was  every 
promise  that  the  succeeding  day  would  be  a fine  one. 
Early  on  Saturday  morning  a storm  commenced  which 
increased  in  violence  through  the  day.  The  night  was 
fearful.  The  wind  blew  strong  from  the  northeast  until 
about  midnight,  when  it  changed  quite  suddenly  to  the 
south.  The  cross  seas  thus  produced  threatened  to 
founder  the  ship,  and  from  twelve  till  about  three  we 
were  in  danger.  1 will  not  attempt  to  describe  its  effects 
in  the  cabin  and  staterooms.  The  baggage  burst  from 
the  baggage  rooms,  and  it  really  seemed  as  if  the  ship 
must  be  racked  to  pieces.  You  recollect  my  large  chest. 
It  rolled  across  my  stateroom  as  if  it  were  a light  article. 
My  writing-desk  is  almost  spoiled.  1 put  it  in  a place 
where  I thought  it  would  be  protected  from  the  rain  which 
came  into  our  staterooms,  but  I found  it  almost  saturated 
with  water.  That  night  was  a sleepless  but  not  an 
unhappy  one.  For  myself  I felt  perfectly  safe,  and  almost 
indifferent  as  to  the  choice  of  seeing  another  day  on 
earth.  The  Lord  preserved  us,  and  the  storm  passed  by. 

Sept.  11.  I find  I have  brought  with  me  the  same 
unbelief  that  I possessed  at  home  ; prone  to  forget  God  — 


174 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


the  same  disposition  to  sin.  I find  some  consolation 
in  prayer,  and  in  the  cheering  thought  that  you  and  others 
are  praying  for  me. 

Sept.  12.  Good!  good!  A vessel  coming  very  near 
us!  The  captain  has  stopped  ours  for  her;  says  he  thinks 
it  is  an  American  brig,  and  that  we  can  send  letters.  Oh, 
can  it  be ! 1 will  not  indulge  too  much  hope  for  fear  of 
a disappointment.  I must  run  up  on  deck  to  see  if  it  is 
really  getting  nearer.  . . . Disappointment  is  the  common 
lot  of  us  all.  The  brig  is  from  the  Isle  of  France,  bound 
for  London.  One  of  the  officers  came  on  board ; there 
are  eighteen  British  soldiers  going  home  to  recruit. 
Another  ship  in  sight;  quite  an  adventurous  day !■  The 
good  missionaries  brought  several  cases  of  different  kinds 
of  eatables,  in  which  1 have  been  a welcome  sharer.  Were 
it  not  for  this  I should  really  have  suffered  for  want  of 
food,  not  that  there  is  not  enough  cooked  on  board,  but 
1 cannot  eat  it. 

Sept.  16.  Saw  several  whales  to-day — monsters  of 
the  deep  in  truth.  The  Bible  lesson  this  afternoon  was 
on  the  subjects  of  “Baptism”  and  “The  Trinity.”  It 
was  absolute  torture  to  preserve  silence  on  the  former 
subject,  while  to  my  mind  it  was  twisted  and  contorted 
by  every  one  present,  but  I did  it,  thinking  it  to  be  more 
prudent. 

Sept.  23.  Have  been  out  six  weeks  and  am  yet  several 
day^  from  the  equator.  The  equator  is  often  reached 
in  thirty  days.  We  have  every  prospect  of  a long  and 
tedious  voyage.  Yesterday  a fine  large  dolphin  was 
caught,  and  we  were  called  on  deck  to  see  it  die.  Its 
beautiful  varied  colors  I cannot  describe,  — red,  orange, 
yellow,  green,  blue,  indigo,  violet,  blending  and  separating 
and  blending  again,  ever  changing,  until  the  whole  sur- 
face settled  into  a deep  sea-green,  tinged  with  orange, 
and  covered  with  small  spots  of  the  deepest  blue.  It  was 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


175 


a long  time  in  dying,  and  nothing  but  the  beauty  of  the 
fish  and  novelty  of  the  sight  could  have  induced  me  to 
witness  its  struggles. 

We  have  but  six  sailors  besides  the  two  mates.  No 
two  of  them  are  of  the  same  nation.  Yesterday  at  about 
3 A.  M.,  an  Italian  and  a Frenchman  were  engaged  in  a 
quarrel ; the  Italian  was  much  worsted.  He  received  a 
cut  in  the  head,  and  one  of  his  shoulders  was  considerably 
lamed.  His  groans  and  cries  sounded  dreadful  to  us 
in  the  cabin.  The  officers  had  some  difficulty  in  sep- 
arating them. 

Sept.  26.  Life  is  so  oft  like  a dream  that  we  know  not 
where  we  are.  When  I awake  in  the  morning,  and  hear 
the  fowl  and  swine  on  deck,  and  at  the  same  time  feel 
the  rolling  of  the  ship,  1 fancy  that  1 still  dream  ; and 
when  1 sit  on  deck  in  the  evening  with  my  companions, 
and  listen  to  their  sweet,  delicious  music,  and  think  that  I 
am  on  my  way  to  the  heathen,  it  seems  so  like  a dream 
that  I do  not  know  where  1 am.  1 am  not  always  happy. 
“A  deep  and  dismal  gulf  lies  between  comfort  and  my 
soul,”  a gulf  of  sin  and  unbelief,  unfathomed  by  repent- 
ance and  faith.  1 fear  it  may  be  fixed.  My  prayers  are 
faint,  and  the  presence  and  smiles  of  the  Saviour  I 
know  not. 

Oct.  2.  We  are  now  in  the  longitude  of  the  Cape 
(Good  Hope).  The  weather  has  been  rough  for  a week 
or  two  past,  and  quite  cold.  My  mind  is  much  clearer 
than  when  I wrote  last.  The  promise,  “ Lo,  I am  with 
you  alway,”  has  been  precious,  because  1 have  ventured 
to  apply  it  to  myself.  Though  1 stand  as  yet  on  the 
shore,  and  know  not  the  deep  water  through  which  I am 
yet  to  pass,  the  more  I contemplate  a life  among  the 
heathen,  the  more  desirable  it  seems.  Is  my  heart 
deceived  ? 

Oct.  11.  The  weather  is  very  rough.  I have  been 


176 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


obliged  to  sleep  on  the  floor  for  several  nights.  Last 
night  the  sails  were  all  taken  in  and  we  “ lay  to.”  Our 
progress  is  rather  slow,  as  you  might  infer. 

Dec.  14.  Lat.  io°  south.  Long.  88°  east.  We  are  now 
hoping  to  see  the  end  of  our  voyage  soon.  Since  I wrote 
last  we  have  had  gales,  storms,  calms,  and  trade-winds. 
The  southeast  trade-winds  left  us  at  140.  It  was  four 
months  yesterday  since  we  started.  Just  like  a dream 
of  night,  it  has  passed  away,  and  am  I not  ready  to 
awake  to  action  ? Alas  ! I fear  not ; my  heart  shrinks 
from  entering  a field  where  each  laborer  must  sustain 
such  a fearful  responsibility.  My  feelings,  too,  shrink 
from  a land  of  strangers,  but  1 must  remember  that  “ in 
the  Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting  strength,”  and  that  if  I 
trust  Him,  he  will  never  leave  me  nor  forsake  me. 

Dec.  22.  Our  latitude  is  now  about  50  north.  We 
fell  in  with  the  trade-winds,  or  little  monsoon,  at  8°  south, 
blowing  with  unusual  strength  and  uniformity.  They 
took  us  in  a few  days  to  40  above  the  equator.  Now  we 
have  the  northeast  monsoon.  It  is  very  light,  so  that  we 
are  almost  becalmed.  The  last  ten  days  have  been  the 
most  prosperous  of  our  voyage,'  and  we  take  courage. 
Our  voyage  has  been  ong  and,  in  some  respects,  unpleas- 
ant, yet  we  have  had  much,  very  much,  cause  for  grat- 
itude. For  myself,  1 have  heartfelt  occasion  to  bless 
God  for  the  lesson  which  1 trust  1 have  learned  on  this 
voyage.  It  is  not  necessary  to  speak  of  its  particulars  ; 
it  would  be  painful.  I feel  that  1 needed  it,  and  that  my 
past  offences  merited  a thousand  times  more. 

For  a few  days  past  1 have  felt  more  firmly  established 
on  the  rock  Jesus  Christ  than  at  any  former  part  of  my 
Christian  experience.  The  sweet  assurances,  “ Thy  sins 
are  forgiven,”  “ My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,”  are  most 
precious  to  my  soul.  The  gloomy  clouds  that  have 
spread  across  my  mental  sky  like  an  impenetrable  veil, 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


177 


have  passed  away,  and,  in  communion  with  God,  I find 
Him  a sun  and  a shield.  1 needed  a four  and  one-half 
months’  sojourn  on  board  the  Gulnare  to  make  me  a con- 
firmed Free-will  Baptist.  1 have  found  in  our  denomina- 
tion a certain  simplicity,  unaffected  kindness,  and  the 
absence  of  conscious  superiority  and  formal  condescension, 
which  1 have  not  found  elsewhere. 

Dec.  24.  1 have  just  arisen  from  a breakfast  on  shark. 
I cannot  say  that  1 relish  it  much.  It  was  caught  last 
evening,  and  came  over  the  side  of  the  ship  with  most 
evident  reluctance.  It  seemed  disposed  to  devour  us  all. 

Dec.  26.  The  fifth  day  of  a dead  calm  beneath  a 
tropical  sun.  The  sea  is  smooth  as  glass,  and  may  con- 
tinue so  for  many  days.  I suppose  you  think  of  me  now 
as  having  arrived  in  India,  and  a tolerable  passage  would 
have  landed  us  there  ere  this  hour.  Most  of  the  time  in 
which  I have  strength  to  do  anything,  1 spend  in  reading 
and  writing.  “The  Lord  is  my  light  and  strength,  and 
in  Him  I find  much  peace.” 

Dec.  28.  We  are  again  going  on  in  the  Bay  of  Bengal. 
Oh,  can  it  be  possible  that  1 shall  soon  see  those  for 
whom  1 have  in  secret,  these  many  years,  wept  and  prayed, 
and  for  whose  eternal  good  I hope  I have  many  years 
yet  to  labor  P 

Jan.  7,  1847.  Our  voyage  is  very  long  — longer  even 
now  by  five  weeks  than  the  captain  anticipated,  and  the 
time  we  have  yet  to  remain  in  the  Bay  of  Bengal  remains 
to  be  decided.  For  a week  we  have  been  within  two 
days’  sail  of  Calcutta.  The  winds  are  indeed  “contrary.” 
But  we  have  patience,  and  I am  very  happy.  The  Lord 
is  the  light  of  my  countenance.  I will  trust  and  not  be 
afraid.  Indeed,  dear  brother,  I can  hardly  realize  my 
own  identity.  1 have  become  much  cheered.  God  knows 
if  it  is  for  the  better,  and  permanent.  I hope  it  is,  though 
with  trembling,  because  of  the  deceitfulness  of  the  human 
heart. 


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LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Jan.  20.  Last  Sabbath  (17th)  we  reached  the  light-ship 
and  took  a pilot  on  board.  We  were  becalmed  fifteen 
days  within  one  day’s  sail  of  the  light-ship.  As  soon  as 
the  pilot  learned  our  situation  he  sent  a boat  to  the  light- 
ship for  some  fresh  provisions,  and  we  are  now  compara- 
tively comfortable.  Boats  filled  with  natives  are  around 
our  ship  all  the  time. 

I shall  not  attempt  to  add  another  to  the  thousand  and 
one  descriptions  already  written  of  the  appearance  of 
the  natives.  It  is  hard  to  believe  that  humanity 
is  so  debased,  and  1 almost  think  I am  looking  on 
a troop  of  monkeys.  The  thought  that  they  possess 
immortal  souls  bound  to  an  idolater’s  eternity  is  over- 
whelming, and  my  heart  sinks  within  me.  Yesterday 
1 received  letters  from  Brothers  Phillips  and  Bacheler. 
They  were  as  cold  water  to  a thirsty  soul.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pierce,  English  missionaries,  have  through  Brother 
Phillips  invited  me  to  their  house. 

Jan.  22.  Evening.  Just  arrived  in  Calcutta.  Every- 
thing looks  strange.  We  are  going  to  remain  on  board 
to-night.  There  is  a heathen  festival  on  the  shore  just 
opposite  to  us.  We  have  seen  two  of  the  idols  drowned, 
after  being  borne  about  in  high  cars  along  the  banks  of 
the  rivers.  Our  ship  is  surrounded  by  boats  filled  with 
natives,  and  the  river  around  us  is  covered  with  ships, 
some  very  fine. 

Jan.  24.  I am  stopping  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Bliss,  as 
Mr.  Pierce  is  out  of  the  city.  They  sent  a conveyance 
for  me  as  soon  as  they  knew  of  my  arrival.  I have 
parted  with  my  dear  missionary  companions.  They  have 
yet  twelve  hundred  miles  to  go,  and  the  hot  weather 
is  already  commencing.  Yesterday  I received  your  letter, 
and  I cannot  express  to  you  how  precious  and  comforting 
were  its  contents.  I did  thank  God  on  my  knees  for 
his  abundant  and  unmerited  mercy.  1 already  have  felt 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


179 


many  times  that  you  were  praying  for  me.  Your  last 
words,  “ I hope  you  will  be  a blessing  to  our  mission  in  India,” 
are  written  on  my  heart.  1 shall  ever  pray  that  God 
may  bless  you.  O that  I had  one  thousand  lives,  and 
a spirit  prompting  me  to  spend  them  all  for  Christ ! 
What  can  make  our  churches  feel  and  act  for  the  dying 
heathen?  What  can  move  them?  I was  going  to  say 
that  the  sight  of  these  poor  people  in  all  their  ignorance 
and  degradation  could  not  fail  to  do  it ; but  no.  “ If  they 
hear  not  Moses  and  the  prophets,  neither  would  they  be 
persuaded,  though  one  rose  from  the  dead.”  If  the  truth 
of  the  Bible  in  relation  to  the  duty  of  Christians  to  those 
who  have  not  heard  of  Christ,  will  not  affect  the  heart, 
t-here  can  be  nothing  more  powerful.  I am  not  aware  of 
feeling  more  interested  for  the  salvation  of  the  heathen 
now  than  I did  before  I saw  them.  True,  my  sympathy 
is  more  excited,  but  otherwise  1 feel  just  the  same  in 
relation  to  them  now  as  in  years  past.  Many  people  seem 
inclined  to  attribute  to  missionaries  a different  spirit  than 
that  possessed  by  common  Christians,  but  I cannot  tell 
the  difference  between  the  spirit  that  would  prompt  to 
self-denial  at  home,  and  that  which  would  lead  to  go 
abroad. 

Jan.  28.  Yesterday  Mr.  Pierce  (Baptist  missionary  in 
Calcutta)  kindly  took  me  through  all  his  establishment 
of  schools.  They  were  extremely  interesting  and  evince 
a great  amount  of  care  and  labor.  The  friends  with  whom 
I am  staying  say  they  wish  I was  to  remain  in  Calcutta, 
and  1 almost  wish  so  myself.  Calcutta  is  a most  beautiful 
place,  and  Christian  friends  are  extremely  kind.  Mr. 
Pierce  said  to  me  last  evening,  “ I hear  you  have  seventy 
thousand  members;  you  ought  to  have  more  than  three 
missionaries.”  What  could  I say?  I hope  and  trust 
our  mission  will  be  enlarged  very  soon.  I have  seen  none 
of  our  missionaries,  and  I do  not  know  when  I shall  get  to 


180 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Orissa.  Brother  Phillips  wishes  me  to  come  immediately, 
or  at  least  very  soon,  to  his  house,  instead  of  stopping  at 
Midnapore.  1 hardly  know  what  to  do,  but  hope  Provi- 
dence will  direct  me.  I feel  consoled  by  the  thought  that 
you  are  praying  for  me.  O,  do  not  cease,  1 beseech  you, 
to  make  mention  of  me  in  your  prayers. 

Sarah  p.  Merrill. 

A sea  voyage  of  three  weeks  has  seemed 
long  and  tedious  to  some  of  us,  but  Miss  Merrill 
was  one  hundred  and  three  days  going  from 
Boston  to  Calcutta,  often  in  disagreeable  and 
dangerous  circumstances,  always  enduring  priva- 
tions. On  reaching  Calcutta,  she  still  had  the 
journey  to  Balasore  before  her.  Calcutta  friends 
accompanied  her  to  Tumlook,  where  Mr.  Dow, 
one  of  the  missionaries,  met  her  and  took  her 
to  his  home  in  Midnapore,  which  is  about  seventy 
miles  from  Calcutta.  She  stopped  there  a few 
days.  Dr.  Bacheler  met  her  there  and  accom- 
panied her  to  Jellasore,  where  they  visited  in 
the  Phillips  family  for  nearly  three  weeks. 

Dr.  Bacheler  and  Miss  Merrill  had  met  before 
but  their  acquaintance  was  slight.  Soon  after 
becoming  better  acquainted,  the  question  came 
to  him,  should  he  ask  her  to  become  his  wife. 
Seriously  he  revolved  in  his  mind  the  circum- 


SORROW  AND  SERVICE 


181 


stances,  the  sacredness  of  the  question.  One 
entire  night  he  walked  the  floor  in  prayer  over 
the  matter,  with  the  result  that  he  submitted 
the  question,  received  an  affirmative  answer, 
and  they  were  married  Feb.  26,  1847,  by  Rev. 
J.  Phillips.  She  resumed  her  journey  with  her 
husband  — the  long  journey  which  was  to  end 
at  Balasore,  in  her  own  “home,  sweet  home,” 
herself  no  longer  Miss  Merrill,  but  Mrs.  Bacheler. 

Her  next  letter  was  written  from  her  new 
home,  and  dated  March  4,  1847.  It  was  full  of 
gratitude  for  God's  care  and  guidance  during 
a long  and  perilous  journey,  deep  interest  in  the 
heathen,  and  longing  for  the  mission  force  to  be 
increased. 

On  her  way  from  Calcutta  she  stopped  over 
night  at  Busta,  and  saw  for  the  first  time  some 
of  India’s  sad  but  common  scenes.  She  saw 
skulls  and  bones  of  pilgrims  strewed  thick  over 
the  ground,  the  remains  of  those  who  had  died 
on  their  way  to  and  from  Jagurnath.  She  saw 
one  poor  man  die  only  a few  feet  from  her. 
Unnoticed  he  lay  in  the  hot  sun,  with  the  sand 
and  dried  leaves  blowing  about  him.  On  the 
next  morning  nothing  but  a few  bones  and  the 


182 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


skull  remained  of  him,  and  a dog  was  gnawing 
the  latter.  This  was  certainly  a revolting  intro- 
duction to  heathenism. 

Before  leaving  America  she  studied  the  Oriya 
language  with  Rev.  Eli  Noyes  (missionary  re- 
turned) for  a few  months,  and  was  able  to  go  into 
the  native  school  and  help  the  beginners,  but 
she  longed  to  be  able  to  talk  readily  with  the 
natives,  and  devoted  herself  to  the  study  of  the 
language  as  much  as  was  consistent  with  her 
other  duties.  From  the  first  she  realized  that 
she  had  married  a husband  with  two  children 
to  whom  she  was  to  be  a mother,  concerning 
which  fact  she  said  : " Two  children,  Maria,  aged 
five  and  a half,  and  Albert,  aged  two  and  a half 
years,  were  mine  by  inheritance  from  the  former 
Mrs.  Bacheler,  so,  from  the  beginning  of  my 
India  life,  I had  a really  home  family.” 


CHAPTER  VIII 

A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION  — A DANGEROUS 
PREACHING  TOUR  — KHAND  SACRIFICES 

THE  work  of  missions  in  India  had  been  pro- 
gressing so  favorably  that  a new  form  of  oppo- 
sition was  developed  ; especially  had  peculiar 
manifestations  of  this  been  made  in  Calcutta 
and  its  vicinity.  The  native  press  took  an 
active  part,  and  large  assemblies  were  held,  with 
the  design  to  compel  the  natives  to  withhold 
all  support  and  encouragement  from  the  propaga- 
tion of  Christianity,  and  thereby  force  the  mis- 
sionaries to  leave  the  country. 

The  immediate  occasion  of  this  new  movement 
arose  from  the  following  facts  : The  missionaries 
of  the  Church  of  Scotland  had  for  several  years 
successfully  operated  a large  and  flourishing 
school  which  had  given  constant  instruction,  to 
nearly  one  thousand  heathen  youth,  in  science  and 
English  literature.  But  the  teachers  of  this 
school  were  not  merely  teaching  science  and 
literature  ; they  took  special  pains  to  store  these 


184 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


youthful  minds  with  the  principles  of  the  gospel. 
So  long  as  no  converts  were  made,  the  native 
community  was  not  only  quiet,  but  also  full  of 
adulation  for  the  missionaries.  But  when  the 
seed  sown  in  tears  began  to  spring  forth  in  joy, 
and  several  young  men  in  the  school  — some  of 
whom  belonged  to  wealthy  and  influential  fam- 
ilies— became  confessed  Christians,  there  was 
opposition.  Each  new  conversion  created  a fresh 
excitement,  until  their  frequency  aroused  the 
community  to  a high  pitch. 

The  long  pent-up  spirit  of  enmity  to  the  gospel 
burst  forth  with  all  possible  hatred  and  vindictive- 
ness. A large  assembly  was  called,  and  influ- 
ential babus*  were  expected  to  adopt  measures  by 
which  the  influence  of  the  missionaries  would 
be  counteracted.  There  were  speeches  full  of 
enmity,  misrepresentation,  and  abuse.  Plans 
were  made  to  raise  Rs.  300,000  — nearly  $150,- 
000  — for  the  endowment  of  an  English  free  school, 
which  would  provide  instruction  for  one  thousand 
yeung  men.  The  following  extracts  from  native 
papers  reveal  the  real  feeling  which  existed 
among  that  people.  The  first  is  from  the  Prabha- 


Bengali  gentlemen. 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


185 


kar,  a Bengali  newspaper,  of  May  16,  1845, 
and  reads : — 

The  son  of  a brother  of  an  acquaintance  of  ours,  like  a 
bird  from  its  cage,  having  escaped  with  extended  wings, 
in  company  with  his  wife,  from  his  home,  has  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  a certain  fowler  in  Calcutta  [Dr.  Duff, 
Scotch  missionary].  On  this  our  friend,  with  some  of 
his  relatives,  by  spreading  the  net  of  habeas  corpus 
endeavored  to  rescue  the  silly  little  bird  from  the  clutches 
of  the  fowler.  But  the  fowler  — the  white  incarnation  — 
seeing  this,  said  to  our  friends : “All  your  efforts  are 
vain,  for  the  little  bird  has  come  to  my  house,  and  I shall 
try  to  keep  it.  I cram  it  daily  with  the  food  of  knowledge 
from  my  own  bill ; it  has  already  learned  to  chirp  a few 
pretty  notes,  so  that  it  will  no  more  relish  your  atten- 
tions.” After  saying  this  he  dismissed  our  friends, 
without  even  allowing  them  a single  sight  of  the  boy. 
Alas  ! we  fear  that  God  has  made  the  hearts  of  the  white- 
faced ascetics  of  the  hardest  stone. 

We  fear  the  missionary  more  than  we  do  the  serpent 
by  whose  poisonous  bite  life  is  so  much  in  danger,  for 
the  evil  effects  arising  from  the  serpent’s  bite  may  be 
removed  by  the  application  of  medicine,  or  by  repeating 
suitable  muntras*  ; but  there  is  no  remedy  for  the  sting  of 
the  serpent-like,  white-faced  missionaries. 

Another  more  liberal  Bengali  paper  closes  an 
article  thus : — 

Collecting  their  friends  and  sitting  together  in  the 
house,  they  will  for  a few  days  make  much  ado ; but 
ultimately  the  whole  plan,  dispersed  in  air,  will  come 
to  naught.  We  are  still  more  grateful  for  the  courage 
of  these  babus  when  we  consider  that  the  missionaries 


* Charms,  incantations. 


186 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


have  established  institutions  in  about  every  country  of 
the  world.  The  babus  of  this  country  believe  that  by 
the  commencement  of  a college  they  will  drive  the  mis- 
sionaries away.  In  fact,  in  all  quarters  of  the  world,  the 
strong  roots  of  the  missionary  tree  extend  to  the  regions 
below,  and  the  small  roots  are  expanded  over  all  parts 
of  the  earth.  At  present,  without  uprooting  the  earth 
itself,  they  cannot  eradicate  the  missionary  tree.  But  the 
marvellous  thing  is  that  these  inexperienced  babus  are 
attempting  to  eradicate  this  mighty  tree  with  a knife 
for  paring  the  nails. 

Surely  the  gospel  seed  was  taking  root  in 
heathen  soil.  The  foundations  of  Hinduism  were 
being  shaken.  The  light  of  Christianity  was 
banishing  the  darkness  of  idolatry,  but  not  with- 
out the  consternation  and  protest  of  heathen 
votaries. 

Ashamed  of  idolatry,  the  educated  Hindus, 
while  hating  Christianity,  endeavored  to  form 
a combination  of  the  infidelity  of  heathenism 
and  the  erudition  of  Christian  science.  Dr. 
Bacheler  says : — 

“ With  this  object  in  view,  several  associations 
have  been  formed,  within  the  last  few  years, 
which  have  endeavored  to  so  modify  Hinduism 
as  to  make  it  compatible  with  the  literature  of 
the  Christian  world.  The  result  has  been  a 
strange  compound,  having  for  its  base  the  poly- 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


187 


theistic  deism  of  Hinduism  combined  with  the 
atheism  of  infidel  France,  with  the  super-addition 
of  the  unbounded  immorality  and  licentiousness 
of  heathenism  to  complete  the  anomaly.  To 
embrace  this  hydra  is  to  renounce  Hinduism  as 
effectually  as  to  embrace  Christianity,  and  the 
consequence  is  that  the  mass  of  the  people 
continue  as  they  were,  except  that  each  succes- 
sive conversion  loosens  the  foundations  of  the 
mighty  fabric  of  idolatry,  modifies  the  prejudices 
of  the  people  and  prepares  them  to  receive  any 
new  form  of  doctrine  which  may  be  presented 
with  most  force  to  their  minds.  There  can  be 
no  reasonable  doubt  that  the  days  of  Hinduism 
are  numbered.  It  must  wither  away  before  the 
light  which  is  dawning  upon  it.  But  whether 
its  votaries  are  to  lapse  into  a state  of  infi- 
delity, worse  than  heathenism,  or  to  be  subdued 
by  the  mild  sceptre  of  Jesus,  is  a point  which 
remains  for  the  Christian  world  to  decide.” 
Thus  he  clearly  sets  forth  the  conditions  as  they 
appear  to  him  from  one  point  of  view,  and  then 
he  looks  from  another  standpoint  and  says : 
“ The  strong  opposition  of  the  higher  classes, 
the  candor  and  willingness  to  concede  the  claims 


188 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


of  the  gospel  so  generally  manifested  by  a large 
mass  of  the  people,  and  the  revivals  that  are 
breaking  out  here  and  there, •»  in  interest  and 
extent  unprecedented  in  the  history  of  Chris- 
tianity in  India  — these  are  all  indications  of  a 
more  prosperous  state  of  things.  The  advocates 
of  idolatry  are  beginning  to  feel  that  their  system 
is  in  danger,  they  are  rallying  for  a final  conflict. 
Let  but  the  Christian  church  come  up  nobly  to 
the  work ; let  additional  laborers  be  sent  into 
the  field ; let  the  work  of  education,  tract  and 
Scripture  distribution  go  on  in  an  increasing 
ratio ; let  the  prayers  of  the  faithful  go  up 
unitedly  to  the  throne  of  our  omnipotent  God, 
— then  it  will  be  seen  that  the  days  of  Hinduism 
are  numbered,  and  that  the  triumphs  of  Chris- 
tianity, even  in  benighted  India,  are  certain.” 

Such  was  the  reasoning  and  the  sanguine  hope 
of  Dr.  Bacheler  at  this  juncture.  Time  has 
shown  that  he  reasoned  prudently  and  that  his 
hope  was  justified.  In  all  his  endeavor  he 
worked  upon  the  ideas  which  he  here  set  forth. 

One  of  the  longest  cold-season  trips  that  he 
made  while  in  India  was  accomplished  at  about 
this  time.  It  is  so  interesting  and  sets  forth 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


189 


the  condition  of  the  people  so  clearly,  that  it 
will  be  better  to  reproduce  an  account  of  it 
here  quite  fully.  It  was  published  in  The  Morn- 
ing Star  under  the  title,  “ Some  Accounts  of  a 
Journey  through  the  Tributary  States  of  West- 
ern Orissa,”  and  reveals  experiences  almost  as 
thrilling  as  any  which  Livingstone  had  in  Africa. 
The  account  follows  : — 

“ You  are  probably  aware  that  on  our  western 
borders  there  are  a number  of  tributary  States 
occupying  a large  portion  of  the  Province  of 
Orissa  and  extending  far  into  the  interior,  be- 
yond Sumbhulpore  to  the  Marhatta  country  of 
Central  India.  These  territories  are  in  most 
respects  governed  by  their  respective  authorities, 
but  pay  a small  tribute  to  the  home  Company 
for  their  protection.  An  agent  of  the  Com- 
pany exercises  a general  superintendence  of 
their  affairs.  This  protective  system  is  probably 
one  of  the  worst  forms  of  government  that  can 
exist. 

“The  kings  are  not  permitted  to  keep  troops, 
except  by  the  direction  of  the  Company,  nor 
engage  in  war  on  their  own  account.  In  case 
of  insurrection  or  invasion,  the  home  Company 


190 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


is  bound  to  protect  them.  All  means  of  redress 
are  thus  taken  away  from  the  people,  for  there 
is  no  appeal  from  the  oppression  of  their  rulers, 
except  an  appeal  to  arms,  and  then  the  strong 
arm  of  British  power  comes  in  for  their  sup- 
pression. 

“ It  will  be  a happy  day  for  these  poor  people 
when  the  English  shall  take  the  exclusive  gov- 
ernment of  these  States  into  their  own  hands. 
By  allowing  the  kings  a moderate  pension,  they 
would  do  them  no  injustice,  and  confer  the 
innumerable  blessings  of  Christian  government 
on  the  downtrodden  subjects. 

“The  worst  feature  of  the  Hindu  character 
is  cruelty.  In  all  ranks  of  society,  from  the 
king  to  the  lowest  subjects,  the  disposition  to 
oppress,  to  the  utmost  extent  of  their  power, 
is  ever  manifest.  The  Musselmans,  the  Mar- 
hattas,  and  the  English  have  in  their  turn  been 
the  oppressors  of  India,  but  the  most  cruel 
forms  of  foreign  oppression  have  no  comparison 
with  that  which  they  exercise  among  themselves 
and  toward  each  other.  The  most  casual  ob- 
server would  not  fail  to  notice  a striking 
difference  between  the  territories  directly  under 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


191 


English  control  and  those  governed  by  the  na- 
tive rajahs.  In  the  former,  signs  of  wealth 
and  prosperity  everywhere  appear;  in  the 
latter,  if  there  is  any  wealth  among  the  people 
it  is  invariably  concealed.  For  when  a person 
is  known  to  possess  property,  the  king  or  his 
emissary  is  sure  to  find  some  plausible  pre- 
text as  an  occasion  for  taking  it  from  him. 
Consequently  there  are  no  comfortable  houses, 
or  cultivated  gardens,  and  the  various  appear- 
ances of  affluence,  which  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
Company’s  territories,  but  everything  bears 
the  appearance  of  poverty.  The  administration 
of  justice,  as  might  be  supposed,  exists  only 
in  name ; and  he  that  can  give  the  largest 
bribes,  though  guilty  of  the  most  daring  crimes, 
is  almost  sure  to  escape  with  impunity,  and  the 
innocent  who  has  the  misfortune  to  be  poor 
is  always  liable  to  be  punished  for  the  crimes 
of  others.  At  a village  where  1 recently  en- 
camped, a murder  had  just  been  committed. 
As  capital  crimes  are  punished  by  the  English 
authorities,  and  the  murderer  in  question  had 
some  little  property,  the  rajah  found  it  most 
profitable  to  compromise  the  matter  and  settle 


192 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


it  himself,  so  he  hushed  up  the  affair,  taking 
the  property  of  the  delinquent  as  a bonus. 
The  murderer  is  still  suffered  to  go  at  large. 

“ Another  circumstance  connected  with  the 
same  rajah  was  related  to  me  at  his  capital, 
which  serves  to  illustrate  the  oppression  of  the 
people.  Before  he  came  to  the  throne,  he 
once  broke  into  the  house  of  the  prime  minis- 
ter and  defiled  some  members  of  his  house- 
hold. He  complained  to  the  king  of  the 
wickedness  of  the  prince,  and  a severe  reproof 
from  the  father  was  the  consequence.  The 
young  man  restrained  his  resentment  for  the 
time,  but  when  he  came  to  the  throne  had  the 
minister  in  question  assassinated.  This  was 
kept  a secret  so  far  as  the  English  authorities 
were  concerned,  as,  had  it  been  known,  he  would 
have  been  subject  to  severe  punishment.  The 
consequence  is  that  the  present  princes  are 
permitted  to  roam  at  large,  defiling  whom  they 
please,  without  fear  or  restraint,  as  no  one 
dares  to  inform  against  them.  The  political 
agent  whom  1 met  in  the  jungles  informs  me 
that  he  had  no  doubt  that  murders  are  often 
committed  by  the  rajah’s  men  ; but  it  would 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


193 


be  almost  impossible  to  convict  the  parties  in 
a court  of  justice,  as  no  one  would  dare  to 
testify  against  them.  Thus  anarchy  and  op- 
pression exist  to  a fearful  extent,  even  in  the 
tributary  territories  of  the  Company. 

“ As  these  territories  are  but  thinly  in- 
habited, the  villages  being  small  and  scattered 
over  a large  extent  of  jungle,  with  but  very 
little  cultivated  lands,  they  do  not  afford  the 
most  inviting  field  for  missionary  labor.  One 
traveling  among  them  must  be  content  with 
hard  work,  poor  fare,  and  comparatively  a 
small  number  of  hearers.  I have  long  desired 
to  travel  among  these  wild  people  and  make 
known  the  blessed  truths  of  the  gospel,  where 
it  had  never  before  been  preached  among  a peo- 
ple who  seldom  or  never  come  within  the  range 
of  our  influence,  but  circumstances  have  never 
been  favorable  to  such  an  object,  till  the 
present  season.  As  my  labors  did  not  par- 
ticularly require  my  attention  nearer  home, 
I left  Jellasore  on  the  9th  of  January,  with 
Bhekari  for  my  native  assistant,  a small  tent 
six  feet  square,  a bed,  table  and  chair,  all  in 
miniature,  to  match,  and  five  men  to  carry  the 


194 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


same,  books,  provisions,  etc.,  with  the  in- 
tention of  spending  the  remainder  of  the  cold 
season  in  the  western  jungles.  I left  with 
no  particular  plan  in  view,  determined  to 
proceed  as  circumstances  should  seem  to  dic- 
tate, but  hoped  to  be  able  to  get  through  the 
county  to  Sumbhulpore.  To  avoid  the  monot- 
ony of  a daily  journal  1 shall  endeavor  to  em- 
body all  that  may  be  interesting  in  the  letter 
form,  making  such  extracts  from  my  journal 
as  occasion  may  require. 

“ Our  first  march  was  to  Patapore,  six 
miles,  where  we  pitched  our  tent  for  the  night. 
We  arrived  early  in  the  afternoon,  and  were 
surrounded  by  interested  hearers  till  late  in 
the  evening.  The  people  were  somewhat 
acquainted  with  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel, 
and  were  prepared  to  oppose  with  a variety 
of  arguments.  This  enabled  us  to  discuss  the 
relative  merits  of  Christianity  and  Heathenism 
with  greater  freedom  than  we  are  often  able 
to  do.  They  received  books  with  some  hesi- 
tation, as  they  feared  they  might  be  called 
upon  to  pay  a heavy  sum  for  them  hereafter. 
After  assuaging  their  fears  they  received  a 
few  joyfully. 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


195 


“ On  the  following  morning  we  passed  into 
the  territory  of  the  Mohurbunge  rajah.  As 
our  path  lay  through  thick  jungle  we  had 
some  difficult)'-  in  keeping  it,  so  that  we  did 
not  arrive  at  our  next  stopping-place  until  two 
o’clock,  having  been  seven  hours  in  going 
eight  miles.  Here  we  found  three  villages 
situated  near  together,  but  we  did  not  obtain 
many  hearers,  as  most  of  the  men  had  gone 
to  attend  the  annual  coronation,  or  rather  re- 
coronation, of  the  king,  which  takes  place  on 
the  first  of  the  Hindu  year,  or  the  12th  of 
our  January. 

“ On  this  occasion  a certain  number  of  men, 
and  a quantity  of  fruit,  grain,  etc.,  are  required 
from  each  district  in  his  territories,  to  feast  the 
multitude  assembled.  The  re-coronation  of  the 
king,  his  marriage  to  a new  wife,  or,  if  this  is  not 
convenient,  his  re-marriage  to  an  old  one, 
and  the  rededication  of  his  idols,  constitute 
the  principal  ceremonies  of  the  occasion. 
After  spending  a quiet  Sabbath  preaching  at 
two  or  three  of  the  neighboring  hamlets  in 
the  evening,  we  struck  our  tent  early  the 
following  morning  and  arrived  at  Chardee  at 


196 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


noon.  A good  company  assembled  on  our 
arrival,  who  listened  attentively  while  we 
made  known  the  unspeakable  riches  of  the 
gospel.  Hearing  that  there  was  to  be  a large 
jatra  three  miles  farther  on,  we  determined 
to  attend.  A large  number  of  retris,  or 
soldiers  who  formerly  composed  a large  portion 
of  the  rajah’s  standing  army,  came  to  escort 
us.  They  are  settled  in  all  his  villages,  two 
or  three  families  in  a place,  and  receive  a por- 
tion of  land,  rent  free,  for  their  support,  and 
serve  their  master,  the  king,  whenever  their 
services  are  required.  They  also  constitute 
the  police  of  the  country.  They  are  mostly 
armed,  some  with  guns,  others  with  swords, 
battle-axes,  etc.  They  gave  us  a specimen 
of  their  sword  exercise,  which  consists  in 
whirling  the  sword  with  great  rapidity  over 
the  head  in  various  directions.  This  may 
answer  a good  purpose  in  Indian  warfare ; but 
a European  swordsman  would  find  little  diffi- 
culty in  striking  his  victim  at  almost  every 
thrust. 

“ Found  about  fifteen  hundred  people  at 
the  jatra,  assembled  around  a temple  of  Jagur- 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


197 


nath,  attending  the  annual  rededication  of 
the  idol.  The  exercises  consisted  of  music, 
dancing,  gymnastic  exercises  by  the  soldiers, 
and  the  making  of  various  offerings  to  the  idols. 

“ Spoke  for  nearly  two  hours,  to  an  atten- 
tive audience.  Some,  at  least,  had  never 
before  heard  the  blessed  name  of  our  Saviour. 

“During  the  two  days  following  we  traveled 
through  extensive  jungles,  interspersed  with 
a few  small  villages  and  cultivated  spots,  in 
which  we  preached  as  opportunity  offered, 
and  arrived  at  Baripoda,  the  residence  of  the 
rajah,  on  the  14th.  This  is  a pleasant  village 
well  laid  out,  situated  in  the  midst  of  a district 
240  miles  in  circumference,  the  property  of 
the  rajah.  A large  portion  of  this  con- 
sists of  timber  lands,  from  the  sale  of  which 
he  derives  a large  revenue.  Not  more  than 
one  twentieth  of  his  territories  is  under  culti- 
vation. The  Balasore  market,  where  large 
quantities  of  timber  are  used  for  ship-building, 
etc.,  is  principally  supplied  from  this  place. 
It  is  situated  on  a branch  of  the  Balasore  River, 
thirty-two  miles  from  Balasore. 

“ During  the  four  days  of  our  stay  here  we 


198 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


were  treated  with  great  hospitality  by  the 
rajah,  from  whom  we  received  several  presents 
of  rice,  vegetables,  milk,  etc. 

“Through  a mistake  1 did  not  see  him.  1 
sent  him  my  card,  requesting  an  interview 
when  convenient.  He  replied  that  he  would 
send  a messenger  to  conduct  me  to  the  palace, 
but  as  the  following  day  was  a holy  day,  and 
we  left  on  the  succeeding  day,  they  did  not 
reach  us  till  we  were  twenty  miles  distant.  I 
replied  to  his  message  that  I would  try  to  pay 
him  a visit  at  some  future  time.  Bhekari, 
however,  had  an  opportunity  of  preaching  be- 
fore him  and  his  servants,  and  was  kindly 
received.  1 met  the  princes,  three  in  number, 
and  explained  the  object  of  our  mission,  at 
their  request.  They  behaved  in  a gentlemanly 
and  becoming  manner. 

“ We  endeavored  to  improve  our  time  while 
here  in  visiting  the  principal  bazaar  night  and 
morning,  where  we  usually  obtained  good  con- 
gregations, but  we  generally  met  some  violent 
opposers,  who  used  every  possible  means  to 
divert  the  people  from  the  truth.  One  even- 

g Bhekari,  on  visiting  the  rajah,  found  him 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


199 


being  entertained  by  an  old  ascetic,  who  was 
worshipping  his  elephants,  feeding  them  with 
sweetmeats,  etc.,  from  whom  he  received  three 
rupees  and  a blanket. 

“ The  worshipping  of  the  elephants  was  only 
a pretext  by  which  to  extort  money.  Bhekari 
freely  exposed  his  tricks  and  he  quickly  took 
himself  away.  So  strong  is  the  influence  of 
superstition  on  the  Hindu  mind  that  the  most 
enlightened  are  slaves  to  it.  This  ascetic  pos- 
sessed such  an  influence  over  the  rajah  that 
he  did  not  dare  to  turn  him  away,  lest  he 
should  curse  him,  destroy  his  children,  or  bring 
upon  him  some  great  evil. 

“ Twice  in  the  bazaar  and  once  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  princes,  a member  of  the  rajah’s 
household  made  the  most  violent  opposition, 
flatly  denying  everything,  even  his  own  exist- 
ence. He  afterward  frankly  acknowledged  to 
us  privately  that  he  fully  believed  the  doctrines 
we  preached  were  true,  but  as  they  aimed  at 
the  destruction  of  sin,  without  which  he  should 
lose  his  chief  profits,  he  thought  it  for  his 
interest  to  oppose.  We  felt  most  forcibly  how 
true  it  is  that  ‘ one  sinner  destroyeth  much 
good.’ 


200 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


“ We  did  not  fail  to  warn  the  people  freely, 
both  high  and  low,  and  if  they  perish  it  will 
not  be  because  they  ‘ have  not  known  the 
truth.’ 

“ The  rajah’s  family  appear  rather  amiable, 
but  as  they  are  educated  to  be  imbeciles  and 
the  quiet  instruments  of  others,  they  are  but 
poorly  prepared  to  act  the  part  of  rulers.  East- 
ern princes  are  noted  for  their  licentiousness, 
and  not  without  reason.  The  part  of  a king  is 
to  spend  his  time  in  luxury,  wasting  his  sub- 
stance on  horses,  elephants,  prostitutes,  and 
pujahs,  and  leaving  the  management  of  his  affairs 
to  wily  sycophants,  whose  chief  object  is  to 
enrich  themselves  at  the  expense  of  the  sub- 
jects. Justice,  as  might  be  expected,  does  not 
exist.  The  innocent  are  not  protected ; crime 
goes  unpunished,  provided  the  criminal  can  find 
the  means  for  bribing  the  authorities. 

“ Leaving  Baripoda  we  pursued  our  journey 
in  a northwesterly  direction,  through  dense 
forests,  to  Sirra,  a large  village  on  the  road 
from  Midnapore  to  Sumbhulpore.  We  passed 
but  two  or  three  villages  on  the  way,  a dis- 
tance of  twenty  miles,  at  one  of  which,  where 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


201 


we  tented  for  the  night,  the  men  all  fled  at 
our  approach  and  did  not  appear  while  we  re- 
mained. They  probably  thought  we  had  come 
to  take  them  away  to  labor  on  the  road  now 
being  built  through  their  country. 

“ As  I made  it  a prominent  object  during 
my  journey  through  the  district  to  acquire  as 
much  information  as  possible  concerning  the 
Santals  who  abound  here,  1 may  as  well  give 
the  result  of  my  inquiry  here.  They  inhabit 
small  villages,  scattered  throughout  the  jungles 
of  Mohurbunge.  There  is  usually  a small  patch 
of  cultivated  land  near  each  villager;  but  the 
principal  wealth  consists  in  buffaloes,  neat 
cattle,  and  hogs.  These  run  at  large  in  the 
jungles  during  the  day,  and  are  brought  home 
at  night.  Their  principal  labor  consists  in  col- 
lecting wood  and  leaves,  which  they  sell  to 
their  Hindu  neighbors.  In  this  way  they 
manage  to  ‘ keep  soul  and  body  together,’  but 
they  are  very  poor  and  often  suffer  from  want 
of  the  necessities  of  life,  and  in  seasons  of  fam- 
ine many  of  them  perish.  From  the  number  of 
villages  1 had  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Balasore, 
as  well  as  from  what  information  1 could  col- 


202 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


lect  there,  I had  formerly  estimated  that  their 
whole  number  in  the  Mohurbunge  might  be 
about  ten  thousand,  but  from  what  1 have  seen 
on  this  journey  I concluded  that  that  estimate 
was  far  too  low.  It  is  difficult  to  form  an  es- 
timate approaching  to  correctness,  but  1 think 
we  can  safely  calculate  uporr  twenty  thousand 
in  this  district.  And  when  we  consider  that 
they  have  no  religion,  either  false  or  true, 
neither  caste  nor  priests,  — the  great  obstacle  to 
the  introduction  of  Christianity  among  the 
Hindus,  — may  we  not  justly  look  upon  this  as 
a most  inviting  field  of  labor  ? Providence 
seems  loudly  calling  upon  us  to  make  known 
the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  to  the  rude 
inhabitants  of  these  wild  forests.  The  work 
has  already  commenced.  Bro.  Phillips  has 
made  considerable  progress  in  their  language, 
and  is  prepared  to  enter  at  once  on  this 
department  of  labor,  whenever  the  necessary 
help  and  funds  can  be  obtained,  so  that  our 
present  field  of  work  shall  not  suffer.  Shall 
the  work  go  on,  or  shall  it  stop  ? Let  the 
churches  decide  the  important  question. 

“ We  are  now  at  Sursa  on  the  Sumbhulpore 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


203 


road,  forty  two  miles  from  Midnapore,  and  fifty 
miles  from  Balasore,  prepared  to  pursue  our 
journey  through  the  western  jungles.  Here  we 
spent  the  Sabbath. 

" This  is  a large  village,  containing  four 
or  five  hundred  inhabitants.  The  reception 
we  met  with  here  was  truly  gratifying.  On 
Sabbath  morning  we  went  into  the  village 
and  found  a large  company  at  the  house  of  the 
zemindar,  to  whom  Bhekari  preached  from, 
‘ Repent,  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at 
hand.’  We  occupied  an  hour  and  a half,  while 
our  message  was  listened  to  with  unusual  at- 
tention. On  coming  away  they  invited  us  to 
come  again  in  the  afternoon,  to  which  we  agreed. 

“ After  fulfilling  our  engagement  in  the  after- 
noon, at  which  time  we  were  listened  to  with 
serious  attention,  they  pressed  Bhekari  to  re- 
turn after  supper,  and  spend  the  evening  with 
them.  This  is  somewhat  unusual,  and  I am  in- 
clined to  think  the  anxiety  arose  from  a sincere 
desire  to  learn  something  more  perfectly  of  the 
doctrines  of  Christianity.  We  departed  from 
them  strongly  encouraged  to  hope  that  our 
labors  had  not  been  in  vain. 


204 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


“ The  road  now  being  built  will  open  an 
easy  communication  between  Calcutta  and  Bom- 
bay, via  Sumbhulpore,  a distance  of  thirteen 
hundred  miles.  Twenty  thousand  men  are  now 
engaged  on  it,  and  it  will  probably  be  com- 
pleted during  the  present  season.  Taking  this 
road  toward  Sumbhulpore,  we  arrived  at  even- 
ing at  the  base  of  a lofty  range  of  mountains, 
over  which  it  was  necessary  to  pass,  fifteen 
miles  from  where  we  encamped  the  previous 
night.  Here  a cluster  of  bold  cliffs,  thrown 
together  in  wild  confusion,  presented  one  of 
the  most  sublime  and  picturesque  scenes  I ever 
beheld.  The  mountains  of  New  Hampshire  and 
Vermont,  which  have  justly  received  the  admira- 
tion of  strangers,  are  as  familiar  to  me  as  the 
cradle  song  of  my  childhood,  but  1 am  not 
prepared  to  say  that  those  most  striking  views 
surpass  in  grandeur  those  1 have  witnessed 
to-day,  though  these  are  on  a smaller  scale. 
Had  poesy  ever  formed  a part  of  my  nature,  I 
could  have  been  poetical  there.  Our  path  led 
up  a broken  defile,  six  miles  in  extent.  The 
passage  is  abrupt  and  difficult,  now  ascending 
almost  perpendicularly  and  then  descending  into 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


205 


ravines  or  along  the  verge  of  deep  runs.  As 
we  rise,  a continual  succession  of  mountains  ap- 
pear above  and  around  us,  hill  peering  over  hill 
till  we  arrive  at  the  summit  which  forms  the 
entrance  to  the  tablelands  beyond. 

“ As  we  did  not  commence  the  ascent  until 
five  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  night  overtook  us, 
when  about  two  .miles  from  the  entrance  to  the 
defile,  and  we  had  still  four  miles  to  go,  over 
the  roughest  road  1 have  ever  passed.  To  add 
to  the  interest  of  the  scene,  just  after  sunset 
we  met  two  men  in  a great  fright,  who  had  just 
seen  a tiger  a few  rods  in  advance.  We  moved 
on  unconcerned  and  were  not  disturbed  by  the 
way.  Once,  just  after  dark,  we  heard  a loud 
tramping  in  the  jungle  close  to  our  path,  which 
we  took  to  be  a tiger,  but  a loud  shout  from 
our  men  put  him  to  silence,  and  we  heard  no 
more.  The  royal  Bengal  tiger,  the  most  formi- 
dable of  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  inhabits  the 
mountains  in  large  numbers,  so  that  the  poor 
natives  dislike  to  pass  through  them  unless 
there  are  several  in  company,  as  these  animals 
are  not  bold  enough  to  attack  a man  except 
he  be  alone. 


206 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


“We  arrived  at  a pdst-house  at  the  top  of 
the  mountain,  at  eight  o’clock,  where  we  found 
shelter  for  the  night. 

“On  the  following  morning  we  passed  on 
through  a beautiful  tableland  thirty  miles  in 
extent.  The  mountains  over  which  we  had 
come  were  enclosed  on  all  sides  by  hills  vary- 
ing in  distance  from  six  to  twelve  miles.  This 
beautiful  plain  has  only  a few  scattering  villages  ; 
the  remainder  is  jungle  studded  by  heavy 
timber. 

“The  next  day  we  emerged  from  this  plain, 
and  soon  after  came  to  Dospore,  where  Lieu- 
tenant Haynes,  the  engineer  of  the  road,  was 
encamped,  with  whom  1 spent  the  heat  of  the 
day.  He  informed  me  that  1 was  the  first 
European  that  had  ventured  through  on  this 
route  alone,  and  offered  to  send  a native 
officer  with  me  to  see  that  1 was  provided 
for  on  the  way,  but  as  1 had  no  fears  on  the 
subject  1 refused.  It  is  not  strange  that  offi- 
cers of  government,  traveling  as  they  do  with 
a large  train  of  servants,  should  meet  with 
some  difficulty  in  obtaining  food  supplies,  for 
though  they  usually  pay  well  for  all  they  re- 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


207 


ceive  yet  their  servants,  through  whom  they 
obtain  everything,  are  so  unmerciful  in  their 
extortions,  that  the  poor  people  receive  little 
or  nothing.  We  had  an  illustration  of  this  in 
the  village  where  we  stopped  to-day. 

“ A servant  of  Mr.  Haynes  came  for  some 
supplies.  A goat  was  brought.  He  said,  ‘ It 
is  poor,  you  will  get  nothing  for  this.’  A fowl 
is  brought  — ‘It  is  small,  you  will  get  nothing 
for  this.’  Some  eggs — ‘They  are  small,  you 
will  get  nothing  for  them,’  and  so  on  to  the 
end  of  the  chapter.  So  that  although  the 
prices  of  everything  are  paid  by  the  superin- 
tendent, and  he  invariably  pays  according  to 
the  estimate,  his  servants  exact  them  from 
the  people  without  pay,  and  pocket  their 
value  themselves.  The  consequence  is  that 
the  people  yield  nothing  willingly,  and  endeavor 
to  conceal  what  they  possess.  Is  it  strange, 
then,  that  they  should  dread  the  approach  of 
a European  more  than  the  ferocious  beasts  of 
their  forests?  We  find  the  same  traits  of  char- 
acter in  all  classes  of  native  society — unbounded 
extortion  and  oppression  wherever  they  possess 
the  power.  Justice  and  mercy  are  principles 


208 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


unknown  to  the  heathen  heart.  When  we 
settled  our  bill  with  the  villagers,  they  ex- 
pressed great  surprise,  saying,  ‘ This  Sahib  pays 
for  all  he  receives — we  never  saw  such  a Sa- 
hib before.’  Obtaining  a good  hearing  at  the 
village,  we  were  happy  to  be  able  to  show 
them  by  our  honest  dealing  the  superiority  of 
Christian  principles  over  their  own  corrupt  re- 
ligion. 

“ During  the  two  following  days,  we  met 
with  little  but  jungle,  and  on  the  night  of  the 
second,  pitched  our  tent  in  the  midst  of  a camp 
of  coolies  engaged  on  the  road.  Here  a good 
opportunity  for  preaching  offered,  which  we 
improved  during  our  stay.  Some  of  the  over- 
seers endeavored  to  oppose,  but  the  greater 
part  heard  well.  As  all  were  away  from  their 
homes  they  encamped  in  the  woods,  in  shanties 
built  of  bushes  ; when  they  lighted  their  fires 
for  cooking  the  evening  meal,  the  scene  was 
truly  enlivening.  A circle,  including  an  area 
of  ten  acres  or  so,  was  lighted  up.  Some  en- 
gaged in  cooking,  some  in  singing,  and  others 
in  playing  on  various  musical  instruments.  We 
were  thus  lulled  to  sleep  by  the  merry  sounds 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


209 


of  music  and  of  song.  0>  when  shall  these 
wild  sons  of  the  forest  learn  to  chant  the 
praises  of  redeeming  grace  ! 

“ Soon  after  leaving  this  camp,  we  left  the 
Mohurbunge  territory,  through  the  whole  ex- 
tent of  which,  eighty  miles,  we  had  traveled, 
and  passed  into  the  country  of  the  Kenjuri 
rajah,  and  another  day  through  the  jungles 
brought  us  to  his  capital.  During  the  last  day 
of  our  journey  we  passed  through  a jungle 
much  infested  by  tigers,  which  do  n‘ot  hesitate 
to  attack  travelers  in  the  daytime.  We  saw 
a buffalo,  fearfully  wounded,  with  one  leg 
broken  by  one  of  these  ferocious  beasts.  By 
keeping  together,  with  a good  lookout  we  got 
through  without  harm. 

" Kenjuri,  the  capital  of  the  district  of  the 
same  name,  is  a large  village  containing  about 
five  thousand  inhabitants,  situated  in  a deep 
valley  surrounded  by  lofty  hills.  We  had  had 
a week  of  hard  traveling,  with  but  a few 
villages  on  the  way,  but  felt  amply  repaid  for 
our  toil  by  finding  a large  number  of  people, 
many  of  whom  were  entirely  unacquainted 
with  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  We  remained 


210 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


here  three  days  and  had  excellent  congrega- 
tions night  and  morning  during  our  stay.  On 
Sabbath  evening  we  collected  a company  > at 
the  door  of  the  rajah’s  palace.  He  soon  came 
out,  listened  for  a few  moments,  and  then  went 
out  for  his  evening  ride.  How  true  it  is  that 
not  many  noble  and  not  many  rich  are  called. 
The  poor  and  middle  classes  hear  the  gospel 
joyfully,  but  the  rich  and  powerful  look  upon 
its  claims  as  beneath  their  notice. 

“ The  ra^ah  is  a young  man — not  more  than 
sixteen  — yet  he  contrives  to  expend  all  his 
large  income.  There  are  now  two  companies 
of  merchants  encamped  near  our  tent,  of  one  of 
which  he  has  purchased  two  ponies  for  about 
$120;  but  he  is  not  able  to  pay  so  large  a sum 
at  once,  and  so  must  keep  his  creditors  waiting 
till  he  can  collect  it  from  the  tenants  in  the 
country.  Of  the  other  company  he  has  pur- 
chased some  $800  worth  of  cloths,  but  they 
must  wait  a month  or  so  for  their  pay.  Yet 
this  boy  keeps  some  twenty  or  thirty  horses, 
three  elephants,  etc.  This  is  a fair  illustration 
of  the  profligacy  of  these  princes.  They  are 
seldom  able  to  raise  any  large  amount  without 


1 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


211 


several  days’  or  weeks’  notice,  and  conse- 
quently almost  invariably  purchase  upon  credit. 
It  is  customary  with  many,  when  they  wish  to 
purchase  a horse  or  an  elephant,  or  to  get  married, 
or  to  make  a feast,  to  impose  a tax  on  their  sub- 
jects to  cover  the  expense.  Thus  the  people 
are  impoverished  to  gratify  the  profligacy  of 
their  rulers.  The  interest  manifested  in  the 
object  of  our  visit  was  flattering,  and  the  oppo- 
sition from  the  Brahmins  was  not  violent. 
Some  had  heard  of  Christianity  at  Balasore 
and  Cuttack,  but  for  the  most  part  the  gospel 
was  new  to  them.  We  distributed  a good  num- 
ber of  books,  and  left  them,  strongly  encouraged 
to  hope  that  though  we  might  never  be  per- 
mitted to  visit  them  again,  the  labors  then  be- 
stowed would  not  be  entirely  in  vain.  This  place 
is  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from 
Balasore. 

“While  here  we  saw  some  women  belonging 
to  a jungle  tribe  inhabiting  this  neighborhood, 
called  Luanjas.  They  were  clothed  in  the 
most  primitive  style  in  existence,  having  the 
fashion  of  their  clothing  directly  from  Mother  Eve. 
A cluster  of  leaves  before  and  behind,  attached 


212 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


to  a string  around  the  waist,  formed  the  sum 
total  of  their  dress.  This  is  the  costume  of 
their  tribe.  They  speak  a distinct  language 
and  live  principally  in  the  mountains. 

“ On  the  28th  of  January  we  left  Kenjuri, 
and  pursued  our  journey  westward.  After 
traveling  over  twenty  miles  of  rugged  moun- 
tains we  arrived  at  the  summit  at  sunset  on 
the  second  day.  Here  we  had  a splendid  view 
of  this  mountain  region.  Far  as  the  eye  could 
reach  not  a spot  of  cultivated  ground  appeared. 
In  one  direction  1 counted  seven  distinct  ranges 
of  mountains  piled  on  mountains  in  wild  con- 
fusion. Just  before  us  stood  the  lofty  peak  of 
Malia  Bunta  (Holy  Mountain),  famous  in  Hindu 
mythology,  and  the  highest  in  this  region. 

“The  Shasters  state  that  when  Rama,  one 
of  the  gods,  went  forth  on  his  wanderings,  in 
which  Rabon,  king  of  Ceylon,  stole  away  his 
wife  Sita,  he  spent  four  months  in  this  mountain 
mourning  her  loss.  The  place  of  his  residence 
is  still  pointed  out,  and  is  held  sacred  by  the 
Hindus.  It  is  hence  called  ‘Holy  Mountain.' 
The  Hindus  in  our  company  were  enraptured 
by  a view  of  this  celebrated  spot.  A succession 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


213 


of  abrupt  descents  brought  us  to  a post-station 
near  the  foot  of  the  mountains  early  in  the 
evening.  We  had  had  a day  of  severe  toil, 
and  here  nothing  could  be  obtained  in  the  shape 
of  food.  A Hindu  will  endure  almost  anything 
if  he  can  obtain  his  customary  food,  but,  if  in 
addition  to  his  toil  you  deprive  him  of  his  rice, 
he  is,  to  use  his  own  expression,  ‘dead.’  After 
seeking  in  vain  for  food,  we  discovered  a wild 
boar,  which  had  been  caught  a few  days 
before.  A bargain  was  struck  for  this,  and  in 
a few  minutes  it  was  dispatched  and  distributed 
among  our  company.  In  the  morning  the 
paunch  was  pointed  out  to  me  as  all  that  re- 
mained. The  head,  feet,  skin  and  intestines 
had  all  been  roasted  and  consumed.  Shortly 
after  one  of  my  men  had  colic,  and  on  inquir- 
ing I learned  that  he  had  indulged  rather  freely 
in  the  burnt  skin.  On  the  following  day  we 
left  this  mountainous  region  in  our  rear,  and 
arrived  at  Madia. 

“We  remained  here  one  day  and  were  en- 
tertained by  the  rajah  and  his  people.  In  the 
morning  we  had  an  interesting  congregation  of 
about  sixty  hearers  at  the  entrance  to  the  fort, 


214 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  afterwood  preached  to  the  rajah  and  a large 
number  of  his  attendants.  We  found  him  in 
his  court  room  in  the  fort  above  mentioned, 
which  includes  an  area  of  about  two  acres,  filled 
up  with  small  huts  surrounding  his  residence. 
He  received  us  kindly  and  listened  attentively 
for  an  hour  and  a half,  while  we  proclaimed 
the  blessed  gospel  to  about  one  hundred  of  his 
people.  He  thankfully  received  a copy  of  the 
New  Testament.  We  trust  our  labors  were 
not  in  vain.  The  rajah  is  about  forty  years 
old,  polite  and  well  behaved,  and  appears  to  be 
more  pious  than  princes  generally  are. 

“A  journey  of  two  days  brought  us  to  the 
residence  of  the  king  of  the  Bambardie  district, 
thirty  miles  distant.  On  our  way  we  spent 
the  Sabbath  at  a large  village,  where  we  found 
about  fifty  attentive  hearers.  They  offered  no 
opposition,  but  listened  to  the  truth  without 
any  objections.  They  were  rather  an  un- 
learned people,  but  by  their  replies  we  found 
they  understood  well.  They  appeared  rejoiced 
to  hear  the  word  of  life.  Soon  after  arriving 
at  Bambardie  the  rajah  paid  me  a visit  at  my 
tent,  accompanied  by  a number  of  his  people. 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


215 


After  conversing  awhile  he  invited  us  to  his 
own  residence.  Here  we  found  a large  com- 
pany assembled  to  hear  the  word  of  Divine 
truth.  One  of  the  principal  Brahmins  at  first 
showed  violent  opposition,  but  a little  plain 
speaking  soon  sobered  him.  After  this  we 
spoke  freely  for  an  hour  and  a half,  with  good 
effect.  We  find  it  best  to  be  plain  in  exposing 
the  crying  sins  of  the  people.  We  find  them 
ready  to  confess  their  guilt  when  it  is  freely 
exposed. 

“ After  hearing  us  patiently  the  king  took  us 
over  his  grounds  and  showed  his  gardens,  etc. 
He  is  a young  man  about  twenty-six,  and  mod- 
erately intellectual.  An  opinion  prevails  among 
the  Hindus  that  kings  have  attained  to  their 
estate  by  performing  severe  penance  in  a 
former  birth,  and  kings  who  perform  penance 
in  this  state  will  become  emperors  in  the  next. 
In  accordance  with  this  opinion  this  king  is  de- 
voting his  life  to  bodily  mortification.  He  wears 
no  shoes,  eats  no  dinner,  bathes  four  times  a 
day,  etc.,  and  as  a reward  for  this  he  expects  to 
become  an  emperor  in  the  next  birth.  We  en- 
deavored to  show  him  a more  excellent  way, 


216 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  trust  his  understanding  was  convinced, 
but  fear  that  sin  has  too  dtep  a footing  in  his 
heart  for  him  to  profit  by  it. 

“From  this  place  a journey  of  four  days 
brought  us  to  Sumbhulpore,  where  we  arrived 
on  the  6th  of  February.  About  fifteen  miles 
from  this  place  we  descended  from  the  moun- 
tains, or  rather  tablelands,  over  which  we  had 
come  for  nearly  two  hundred  miles,  into  the 
valley  of  the  Mahanadi  River. 

“ 1 look  with  thrilling  interest  on  the  scenes 
of  the  former  sufferings  and  toils  of  our  mis- 
sionaries while  stationed  here,  and  1 pray  God 
that  his  blessings  may  rest  on  my  unworthy 
efforts  to  make  known  His  word,  where  it  has 
borne  so  noble  a testimony  in  the  midst  of  dis- 
couragements, sufferings,  and  death. 

“ The  early  struggles  of  our  brethren,  as 
well  as  its  being  the  mortal  resting-place  of 
one  of  their  number,  had  imparted  an  interest 
to  this  place  that  had  long,  led  me  to  desire 
to  visit  it,  notwithstanding  the  many  obstacles 
attending  a journey  of  nearly  three  hundred 
miles  through  a thinly-populated  country,  inter- 
spersed with  extensive  jungles  and  lofty 
mountains. 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


217 


“ I had  been  advised  not  to  undertake  such 
a journey,  as  some  considerable  danger  would 
be  incurred  from  wild  beasts,  as  well  as  the 
unhealthfulness  of  the  jungles,  while  the  oppor- 
tunities for  preaching  would  be  comparatively 
small,  and  I well  remember  when,  five  years 
ago,  Brother  Noyes  proposed  to  make  the  same 
excursion  in  company  with  me,  the  scheme 
was  treated  as  wild  in  the  extreme.  Still, 
through  the  watchful  care  of  our  Heavenly 
Father,  we  have  been  preserved  from  all  danger, 
and  brought  to  the  place  of  our  destination 
in  peace. 

“ My  first  object  on  arrival  at  Sumbhulpore 
was  to  seek  out  the  grave  of  Sister  Phillips. 
1 had  preceded  my  men,  that  1 might  have  an 
opportunity  before  their  arrival  to  look  about 
for  the  ruins  of  the  houses  of  our  brethren. 
1 had  no  difficulty  in  finding  the  grave,  as  a 
substantial  stone  monument  had  been  erected 
over  it  soon  after  Brother  Phillips  left  the  place. 

“1  stood  beside  the  mortal  resting-place  of 
our  sister,  with  feelings  of  melancholy  pleasure. 
The  thought  that  she  had  died  so  young,  when 
but  just  entering  on  a sphere  of  usefulness, 


218 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


with  more  than  ordinary  talents  for  the  work 
in  which  her  whole  soul  was  engaged,  made 
me  sad.  But  the  reflection  that  she  had  died 
with  her  armor  on,  bearing  a noble  testimony 
to  the  blessedness  of  the  gospel  in  the  midst 
of  the  enemy’s  land  ; that  her  influence  had  not 
died  with  her,  but  had  been  felt  across  the  ocean 
in  her  native  land,  exerting  on  the  hearts  of 
others  that  same  spirit  which  had  led  her  to 
forsake  the  endearments  of  home  for  the  lonely 
lot  of  the  missionary, — cheered  my  heart,  and 
caused  me  to  feel  that,  trying  as  the  vocation 
of  the  missionary  is,  I would  exchange  It  for 
no  other. 

“ It  is  natural  to  mourn  the  premature  depart- 
ure of  those  who  bid  fair  to  be  useful  in  their 
Master’s  service,  yet  it  often  happens  that 
such,  like  Samson,  accomplish  more  by  their 
death  than  in  all  their  life  besides.  The 
removal  of  Harriet  Newell  was  a mysterious 
providence  to  her  almost  discouraged  associates, 
but  the  influence  of  her  death  still  continues 
to  be  felt,  fanning  in  many  a heart  the  mis- 
sionary flame.  Of  such  it  may  emphatically 
be  said  : — 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


219 


“ ‘ Long  do  they  live,  nor  die  too  soon, 

Who  live  till  life’s  great  work  is  done.’” 

Since  much  of  what  is  said  concerning  Sum- 
bhulpore  in  this  connection  has  been  previously 
recorded,  as  taken  from  “ Hinduism  and  Chris- 
tianity in  Orissa,”  it  is  not  necessary  to  repeat 
it  here.  Omitting ’this,  we  continue  the  account 
of  this  journey  and  work,  as  recorded  by  our 
missionary. 

“After  remaining  at  Sumbhulpore  ten  days, — 
having  taken  leave  of  my  kind  friend,  Mr. 
Hunter,  the  government  agent  for  that  district, 
who  had  shown  me  no  little  kindness  during 
my  stay  there,  and  having  taken  a last  look  at 
the  very  interesting  scenes  about  here,  and  borne 
our  final  testimony  to  the  blessedness  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  the  willingness  of  our  dear  Redeemer  to 
save  the  lost,  before  the  unbelieving  inhabitants  of 
the  place,  — we  set  out  on  the  21st  of  February, 
on  our  return  home  down  the  Mahanadi  River, 
by  the  way  of  Cuttack,  a distance  of  thirty-five 
miles. 

“A  journey  of  five  days  brought  us  to  San- 
pore,  a large  town  of  perhaps  five  thousand  inhab- 
itants, on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  where 


220 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


we  remained  two  days.  The  king  of  this  dis- 
trict is  a boy  about  ten  years  old.  We  paid 
him  an  early  visit,  and  preached  to  a large 
company  before  the  door,  he  being  among  the 
number.  1 had  taken  a volume  of  Scripture 
for  him,  which  1 offered  to  his  secretary  in  his 
presence.  He  refused  it  with  a sneer,  saying 
it  would  be  of  no  use  to  him.  The  boy,  how- 
ever, came  in  the  evening,  with  his  retinue, 
and  asked  for  the  book  1 had  offered  in  the 
morning.  The  secretary  seemed  anxious  that 
he  should  receive  instructions  in  no  religion 
but  that  of  his  ancestors.  How  great  are  the 
opportunities  of  the  wicked  for  doing  evil  ! How 
true  that  ‘ one  sinner  destroyeth  much  good  ’ ! 

“We  found  large  congregations  at  the  Bazaar. 
But  here,  too,  the  gospel  was  not  new  to  them. 
They  well  remembered  the  visits  of  our  brethren 
more  than  eight  years  ago,  and  their  instructions 
were  not  forgotten.  Many  had  also  heard  the 
gospel  at  Cuttack,  and  brought  tracts  and  Scrip- 
tures to  their  homes.  How  great  are  our  encour- 
agements to  sow  the  seed  beside  all  waters, 
not  knowing  which  shall  prosper ! Who  that 
knows  the  transient  nature  of  religious  impres- 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


221 


sions  on  the  Hindu  mind  would  have  supposed 
that  in  an  out-of-the-way  place  like  this,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  the  nearest  mis- 
sion station,  he  would  find  anything  like  a 
correct  idea  of  religious  truth  among  the  people 
generally  ? Our  visit  here  was  rendered  pleasant 
by  the  large  number  of  hearers  who  constantly 
attended  our  preaching,  and  we  humbly  trust 
our  labors  were  not  in  vain. 

"Leaving  this  interesting  place,  a journey 
of  two  days  brought  us  to  Bond,  another  large 
town  on  the  river,  and  the  capital  of  a district 
of  the  same  name. 

"1  called  to  see  the  rajah,  but  found  he  was 
absent  in  the  country.  His  brother  received 
me  kindly,  and  1 was  called  to  visit  his  uncle, 
who  was  ill,  and  was  happy  in  being  able  to 
afford  some  relief.  We  had  a good  congregation 
on  the  rajah’s  grounds,  and  some  heard  the 
word  of  life  with  serious  attention.  In  the  Bazaar, 
also,  we  were  highly  gratified  with  the  attention 
paid  to  our  message.  We  remained  here  two 
days  and  were  highly  pleased  with  the  result  of 
our  labors. 

" The  occasion  of  the  absence  of  the  king 


222 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


was  to  assist  in  the  suppression  of  the  human 
sacrifices  among  the  Khands,  who  inhabit  a 
portion  of  his  territories.  The  English  govern- 
ment has  recently  determined  to  put  down  these 
sacrifices  by  force,  and  three  or  four  officers 
with  a few  soldiers  are  now  in  their  country  for 
that  purpose.  They  inhabit  a large  tract  of 
mountainous  country,  and  are  a wild,  ungov- 
ernable people.  Most  of  you  are  doubtless  aware 
of  the  nature  of  these  sacrifices.  Children  or 
young  people  are  purchased  or  stolen  from  the 
people  of  the  plains,  and  are  fatted  like  cattle 
for  the  slaughter.  At  a particular  season  they 
are  taken  out  to  the  fields,  tied  to  a stake,  and, 
after  certain  ceremonies  have  been  performed, 
the  crowd  rush  upon  them,  and  with  their 
battle-axes  hack  the  flesh  from . their  bones. 
Each  takes  a piece  of  flesh  and  buries  it  in  his 
field  as  an  offering  to  the  god  of  the  earth,  to 
ensure  a plentiful  harvest. 

“ Some  of  these  unfortunate  victims  have 
already  been  recovered  by  the  Government, 
and  quite  a number  of  them  are  now  receiving 
a Christian  education  in  the  mission  schools 
at  Cuttack,  several  of  whom  have  recently 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


223 


become  pious.  It  is  probable  that  the  vigorous 
efforts  now  being  made  for  the  suppression  of 
these  cruel  rites  will  soon  be  crowned  with 
success,  and  human  sacrifices  will  be  remembered 
only  with  horror  by  those  who  now  consider 
them  essential  to  their  prosperity.  The  subject 
of  commencing  a mission  among  these  rude 
people  has  been  agitated  by  the  Cuttack 
brethren,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  day 
is  not  far  distant  when  they  will  be  brought 
under  the  influence  of  the  gospel. 

“ Leaving  Bond,  we  struck  off  from  the 
pilgrim  track  to  Puri,  which  we  had  followed  for 
several  days,  to  visit  a large  town  on  the  banks 
of  the  river,  some  thirty  miles  farther  down. 
The  route  usually  travelled  by  the  pilgrims,  on 
their  way  to  Jagurnath,  here  verges  off  among 
the  mountains  to  avoid  a difficult  pass,  and 
approaches  the  river  again  about  fifty  miles 
below. 

“We  forsook  the  path  we  had  chosen,  a 
most  difficult  one,  only  passable  by  travellers 
on  foot.  Two  chains  of  mountains  line  the 
river  from  Sumbhulpore,  sometimes  approach- 
ing to  its  very  banks,  and  then  receding  to  a 


224 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


distance  of  ten  or  fifteen  miles,  leaving  a fertile 
valley  between,  but  here  both  ranges  come  to 
the  river-bank,  leaving  but  a narrow  channel 
for  the  stream.  Our  path  lay  along  the  sides 
of  the  rugged  cliffs,  and  then  in  the  bed  of  the 
river,  it  being  in  places  nearly  dry.  1 found  it 
impossible  to  ride,  and  had  to  lead  my  horse 
over  the  rough  precipices.  We  entered  the 
pass  early  in  the  morning,  and  did  not  arrive 
at  Tiriripoder  until  ten  o’clock,  having  been 
seven  hours  in  travelling  eight  miles.  The  sun, 
pouring  down  upon  the  sides  of  the  mountains 
and  dry  bed  of  the  river,  rendered  it  intensely 
hot.  Here  we  spent  the  Sabbath.  We  had 
been  informed  that  this  was  a large  place,  the 
residence  of  a rajah,  but  we  were  disappointed 
in  finding  only  a small  village,  inhabited  by  a 
few  fishermen  and  traders. 

“ The  scenery  about  this  place  is  most  enchant- 
ing. A small  curve  in  the  mountains  on  one 
side  leaves  a small  opening  for  the  village,  sur- 
rounded on  all  sides  by  lofty  peaks.  The  river, 
during  the  rains,  when  the  now  small  stream, 
becoming  swollen  to  a mighty  torrent,  comes 
rushing  down  from  the  plains  above,  pent  up 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


225 


here  by  the  mountains  into  a narrow  compass 
must  present  an  imposing  sight.  I have  heard 
this  pass  spoken  of  as  one  of  the  most  sublime 
in  India,  and  I can  easily  imagine  that  to  one 
passing  up  from  the  plains,  where  there  are 
no  mountains  to  break  .the  fearful  monotony  of 
the  scene,  these  jutting  cliffs  must  present  a 
very  enchanting  and  picturesque  appearance. 
But  I have  already  passed  over  a most  romantic 
region,  in  comparison  with  the  mountains  of 
which,  these  were  but  hills,  so  that  I was  net 
prepared  to  appreciate  to  the  full  extent  the 
beauties  of  the  scene.  One  thing,  however,  I 
could  appreciate : that  was  the  almost  over- 
whelming heat.  The  breezes  are  effectually 
cut  off,  and  the  sun,  pouring  down  upon  the  sides 
of  the  mountains,  was  reflected  into  the  little 
valley  below  with  fearful  power.  I found  my 
tent  intolerable,  and  so  moved  my  cot  into  the 
shade  of  a large  tree  and  panted  upon  it  till 
the  sun  went  down.  This  was  on  the  first  of 
March,  just  at  the  close  of  the  coldest  season. 
How  human  beings  can  endure  the  heat  of  April 
and  May  1 cannot  conceive.  I dragged  myself 
out  at  night  to  converse  with  the  villagers,  but 


226 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


as  there  were  only  a few,  we  had  but  an  indiffer- 
ent season.  Early  on  Monday  we  struck  our 
tent,  determined  if  possible  to  get  out  of  the 
pass  before  another  noonday  sun  should  overtake 
us.  We  found  a better  path  than  that  by  which 
we  had  come  in,  though  the  overhanging  thorns 
made  a sad  impression  upon  my  clothes,  so 
that,  \vhen  we  reached  the  open  country,  they 
looked  as  though  they  had  not  seen  a tailor 
for  many  a day.  By  ten  o’clock  we  had  bidden 
farewell  to  mountain  scenery,  and  merged  upon 
the  plains  below,  which  extend  for  hundreds 
of  miles  along  the  coast,  where  a person  may 
often  travel  for  days  without  meeting  even  a 
hill  to  relieve  the  eye. 

“Another  day  brought  us  to  Contiloo,  a large 
town  about  forty  miles  from  Cuttack.  The 
bed  of  the  river  is  here  about  three  miles  wide, 
most  of  which  is  now  sand.  We  had  intended 
crossing  the  sands,  early  in  the  morning,  some 
miles  above  the  town,  to  avoid  the  heat  of  mid- 
day, but,  owing  to  some  misunderstanding  with 
our  guides,  we  were  taken  down  opposite  the 
town,  where  we  arrived  at  about  eleven  o’clock. 
The  sun  was  now  becoming  quite  hot,  but  as 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


227 


the  sands  were  every  hour  becoming  hotter,  and 
would  be  impassable  in  the  afternoon,  we  passed 
on.  I succeeded,  with  some  difficulty,  in  reach- 
ing the  stream  with  a part  of  my  company.  On 
looking  round  for  the  remainder,  they  were 

not  to  be  seen.  One  man  soon  came  up,  saying 
that  three  of  them  had  fallen  in  the  sand  and 
were  unable  to  proceed.  The  heat  was  now 
intense,  and  though  I rode  a large  horse,  the 
reflection  was  sufficient  to  render  my  feet  un- 
comfortable, and  an  India  rubber  whip  melted  in 
my  hand. 

“The  men  who  had  come  up  were  soon 

dispatched  with  some  water  to  their  fallen 
companions,  whom  they  found  digging  holes  in 
the  sand  in  which  they  might  cool  their  burning 
bodies.  They  had  Iain  down,  as  they  said, 

to  die.  A copious  draught  of  water  revived 

their  sinking  powers,  so  that  they  were  able  to 
move  on.  A bath  in  the  river,  which  my  horse 
seemed  to  enjoy  as  much  as  any  of  us,  refreshed 
us  all,  so  that  we  were  able  to  reach  the  opposite 
bank  in  safety. 

“We  had  been  two  and  one  half  hours  cross- 
ing. I felt  the  effects  of  this  exposure  for 


228 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


several  days,  and  did  not  entirely  recover  until 
1 had  had  a -slight  attack  of  fever,  which  1 
experienced  five  days  afterward  at  Puri.  At 
Contiloo  we  fell  in  with  the  train  of  pilgrims 
from  whom  we  had  parted  a week  before.  The 
dole  jatra  was  just  at  hand,  and  they  were 
hastening  to  the  great  capital  of  Moloch’s  Empire 
in  the  East  to  celebrate  it  there.  As  1 had 
long  felt  a desire  to  visit  Puri,  and  being  now 
within  fifty  miles,  I concluded  to  go  on  with 
the  multitude.  Leaving  the  Mahanadi  River, 
we  passed  off  to  the  south,  through  the  best 
cultivated  country  1 had  ever  seen  in  India.  It 
was  emphatically  a land  of  palms ; groves  of 
cocoanut  and  palmyra  trees  were  scattered  here 
and  there  in  rich  profusion. 

“ These  are  the  sacred  territories  of  Jagurnath, 
in  which,  according  to  Hindu  notions,  if  a man 
dies  he  is  sure  of  Paradise.  It  is  a pleasant  land, 
but  made  over  without  reserve  to  the  Prince  of 
Darkness ; yet  how  pleasing  the  thought  that 

“ ‘ Jesus  shall  reign  where’er  the  sun 
Doth  his  successive  journeys  run.’ 

O Lord,  speed  the  day  when  the  powers  of 
darkness  shall  be  beaten  back,  and  He  whose 


A NEW  FORM  OF  OPPOSITION 


229 


right  it  is,  shall  reign.  After  spending  two 
days  at  Puri,  we  pursued  our  journey  home- 
ward, and,  after  spending  two  or  three  days 
with  our  English  brethren  at  Cuttack,  reached 
Balasore  on  the  16th  of  March,  truly  thankful 
to  that  kind  Providence  which  had  been  over 
us  in  our  wanderings,  and  preserved  us  amid 
numerous  dangers.  I had  been  absent  from 
home  just  four  months,  in  which  I had  traveled 
nearly  one  thousand  miles;  five  hundred  of 
which  were  through  a wild  and  thinly  inhabited 
country. 

“The  results  of  the  journey,  the  Great  Day 
alone  can  determine.  We  have  traveled  through 
the  territories  of  twelve  native  rajahs  and 
preached  Jesus  the  Saviour  before  kings  and 
princes.  But  of  this  portion  of  our  labors  I am 
not  particularly  sanguine. 

“ The  poor  have  had  the  gospel  preached  to 
them.  We  have  made  known  the  life-giving 
word  to  many  who  had  never  heard  its  joyful 
sound,  who  but  for  this  excursion  would  have 
died  ignorant  of  a Saviour’s  name.  A large 
number  of  Gospels  and  tracts  have  been  scat- 
tered in  many  a lonely  jungle  and  secluded 


230 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


hamlet,  and  we  look  for  the  blessing  of  Him 
who  has  said,  ‘ My  word  shall  not  return  unto 
me  void.’  ‘In  his  appointed  time  the  fruit  of 
the  seed  sown  beside  many  waters  will  doubt- 
less appear.’  ” 


BULLOCK  CART 


CHAPTER  IX 

MRS.  BACHELER’S  CORRESPONDENCE  — THE 
KHAND  CHILDREN  — CHAPEL  FOR  BALASORE 
-RE-ENFORCEMENTS  — ILLNESS  OF 
MRS.  BACHELER  — RETURN 
TO  AMERICA. 

MRS.  BACHELER  was  industrious  in  the  study 
of  the  language,  the  care  of  native  children, 
in  the  school,  and  in  her  own  home ; but  she 
frequently  wrote  to  the  secretary,  The  Star, 
and  friends  in  the  home  land.  Many  of  these 
letters  were  published.  In  them  she  often  ex- 
pressed great  love  for  the  work,  for  the  natives, 
especially  the  children,  and  for  all  friends  of 
missions  at  home.  She  felt  it  a great  privilege 
to  be  in  India,  and  pleaded  earnestly  for  larger 
interest  in  the  home  churches,  for  more  money 
and  re-enforcements.  A class  of  boys  in  which 
she  took  great  interest  came  to  study  at  sunrise, 
went  away  at  nine,  came  again  at  two  o’clock, 
and  remained  until  six.  She  often  visited  an- 
other school  a mile  away  while  Dr.  Bacheler 


232 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


was  preaching  in  the  Bazaar  near  by.  Often 
she  found  herself  to  be  a great  curiosity.  On 
every  Friday  afternoon,  a company  of  native 
Christian  women  came  to  the  bungalow  to 
pray.  In  this  meeting  she  took  great  delight. 
She  was  greatly  interested  in  the  preaching  of 
Rama,  a native  Christian  preacher,  who  was 
constantly  at  it,  with  earnestness  and  power. 
Now  the  word  seems  to  have  little  effect;  then 
individuals  and  entire  families  show  the  keenest 
interest,  come  for  instruction  and  identify 
themselves  with  the  Christian  community. 
Among  these  was  a Brahman  ‘ Boishnob ,*  who 
had  lived  in  a tree  but  who  joined  the  religious 
community,  after  breaking  caste.  The  self-tor- 
ture of  the  Hindus  was  very  revolting  to  her. 
One  day  she  saw  a man  resting  his  head  in  a 
small  brass  dish  — lota — with  his  hands  on  the 
ground,  and  his  feet  in  the  air ; this  position  he 
kept , for  one  day.  On  the  second  day  he 
placed  the  palms  of  his  hands  on  the  ground, 
with  the  front  of  his  body  and  his  face  turned 
upward,  the  body  forming  a semicircle  above  the 
ground — a most  distressing  sight.  On  the 


* A religious  mendicant. 


— MRS.  BACHELER’S  CORRESPONDENCE  233 


third  day  he  spent  the  time  pitching  himself 
forward  with  great  violence  by  his  hands  and 
at  the  same  time  rolling  his  head  with  all  the 
force  which  he  could  command.  In  a few  words 
she  graphically  describes  an-  Indian  thunder- 
storm. She  says:  “The  storms  rise  very  sud- 
denly, covering  the  heavens  with  blackness,  and 
nature  with  the  gloom  of  night.  The  large 
white  birds  flying  silently  against  the  dark 
sky  make  a wildly  beautiful  sight.  Just  before 
the  storm  bursts,  there  is  a dead  calm,  as  though 
nature  were  holding  her  breath  for  fear ; then 
comes  the  rain,  pouring  down  in  torrents,  while 
the  parched  earth  greedily  drinks  it  up,  as 
though  it  could  never  get  enough.”  Such  were 
some  of  the  pictures  of  India  which  she  drew 
with  her  pen. 

Mrs.  Bacheler  also  wrote  an  interesting  ac- 
count of  their  manner  of  traveling  through  the 
country,  in  a covered  bullock  cart,  six  and  one 
half  feet  long  by  three  and  one  half  wide,  the 
first  covering  being  made  of  palm  leaves,  and 
the  second  of  a coarse  cloth.  The  bottom  of 
this  cart  is  covered  with  straw ; upon  this  is 
placed  a mattress,  pillows,  and  blankets.  This 


234 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


makes  a fairly  convenient  way  to  travel  ex- 
cepting where  the  road  is  rough  and  uneven. 
The  traveler  takes  a bottle  of  water,  another  of 
milk,  a bag  of  bread,  and  is  quite  well  fur- 
nished— with  the  attendants  and  their  help  — 
for  a journey.  This  mode  of  traveling  is  still 
very  common.  In  this  manner  the  Bacheler 
family  made  the  journey  to  Cuttack,  a distance 
of  one  hundred  miles,  in  response  to  an  invita- 
tion from  friends  in  the  General  Baptist  Mission 
there.  They  left  home  on  the  sixth  of  Decem- 
ber, and  traveled  ten  miles  on  the  first  day, 
pitching  their  tent  at  Contapocta.  Mrs.  Bacheler 
describes  the  Bazaar  of  this  place,  which  has  the 
same  general  features  of  all  Bazaars:  — 

“A  Bazaar  consists  of  rows  of  low  mud  houses, 
designed  to  be  nearly  in  a straight  line,  on 
each  side  of  the  road.  The  thatched  roof 
extends  down  over  the  sides,  and  covers  a hard 
veranda,  with  a mud  bottom,  on  which  the 
natives  sit,  with  their  goods  and  chattels  for 
sale  beside  them.  At  night  these  establishments 
are  lighted  with  lamps  made  from  burnt  clay, 
in  the  form  of  a small  shallow  cup,  with  a 
pinch  at  the  side,  in  which  the  lighted  end  of 


MRS.  BACHELER’S  CORRESPONDENCE  235 


the  wick  is  laid,  the  other  end  being  in  the 
bottom  of  the  cup,  covered  with  oil.  This  oil  is 
made  from  the  mustard  seed,  and  is  of  a thick, 
coarse  kind ; consequently  the  light  is  very 
dim.  The  roads  of  a Bazaar  are  always  infested 
with  many  saucy  dogs,  miserable  looking  and 
without  owners ; they  enjoy  the  unbounded 
privilege  of  putting  their  filthy  noses  into  any 
place  where  food  is  to  be  seen.  The  poor 
Hindus  are  such  firm  believers  in  the  trans- 
migration of  souls,  that  they  dare  not  injure  or 
kill  them,  lest  in  doing  so  they  might  be  hurting 
or  killing  a departed  friend.  These  dogs  also 
delight  to  feed  on  the  human  dead,  and,  in  the 
company  of  jackals  and  vultures,  often  regale 
themselves  on  the  bodies  of  pilgrims  and  others 
left  by  the  way. 

“ Dirt  and  all  kinds  of  filth  are  piled  up  here 
and  there,  which  makes  the  appearance  of  a 
Bazaar  anything  but  agreeable.  A heathen 
village,  on  the  contrary,  always  looks  romantic 
and  often  very  pleasant.  It  is  usually  sur- 
rounded and  embowered  by  trees  and  shrubbery, 
which  conceal  it  from  an  outside  view. 

“The  stately  palm,  the  handsome  date  and 


236 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


cocoa,  the  fruitful  banana,  the  shady  banyan, 
and  other  trees  are  mingled  with  various  kinds 
of  shrubbery  and  flowers.  Amidst  this  foliage 
the  homes  are  usually  built.” 

On  this  trip  sometimes  the  uneven  rice-fields 
were  crossed,  and  once  a river  was  forded  where 
the  water  reached  the  bottom  of  the  cart,  and 
up  whose  steep  banks  the  cart  had  to  be  drawn 
with  ropes.  They  also  passed  through  a village 
from  which  a tiger  had  just  before  carried  off 
twenty-one  goats  and  several  lambs,  and  saw 
the  tiger,  much  to  the  consternation  of  the  vil- 
lagers,— not  unusual  incidents  in  Indian  life. 
At  Cuttack  they  found  a royal  welcome,  and 
had  a delightful  visit  of  three  weeks,  although 
Mrs.  Bacheler  had  a severe  attack  of  fever 
during  the  time.  They  were  two  weeks  on 
the  journey  home,  but  were  much  helped  by 
this  contact  with  the  missionaries  at  Cuttack. 
It  seems  that  here  they  acquired  an  increasing 
interest  in  the  Khand  children  ; there  were  quite 
a number  of  these  in  the  school  there,  and  soon 
after  their  return,  fifty  were  brought  into  the 
mission  at  Balasore. 

At  this  time  it  was  seen  that  a missionary 


MRS.  BACHELER’S  CORRESPONDENCE  237 


to  the  Santals  was  very  much  needed.  Mrs. 
Phillips  was  greatly  troubled  with  headache, 
which  threatened  paralysis  or  mental  aberration. 
Mr.  Dow,  the  missionary  at  Midnapore,  was 
for  many  months  unable  to  do  any  work,  with 
the  probability  that  he  would  be  obliged  to 
return  home.  Nearly  all  the  cold  season  of  ’48 
he  was  with  the  Bachelers  in  Balasore.  Dr. 
Bacheler  was  deeply  interested  to  have  re-en- 
forcements sent  out  to  help  in  these  directions, 
and  did  not  fail  to  represent  the  needs  to  the 
home  Board. 

The  arrival  of  the  Khand  children  at  the 
station  was  quite  an  event.  These  fifty  children 
were  selected  from  some  two  hundred  victims, 
and  were  obliged  to  make  a journey  of  three 
hundred  miles  to  get  to  Balasore.  As  their  com- 
ing had  been  somewhat  delayed,  and  the  rainy 
season  had  set  in  before  they  started,  thepe  were 
fears  for  their  safety.  There  was  a heavy  rain- 
fall after  they  left  Cuttack,  which  flooded  the 
country,  and  so  broke%  away  the  road  in  some 
places,  that  they  had  to  pass  over  on  rafts ; 
but  they  made  the  journey  in  safety,  and  when 
it  was  announced,  on  the  eighth  of  July,  that 


238 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


the  party  had  encamped,  the  night  before,  six 
miles  out  of  Balasore,  there  was  great  expecta- 
tion. Says  Dr.  Bacheler : — 

“ Some  Khand  boys  were  off  early  to  meet 
the  newcomers.  Mrs.  Bacheler  and  Mary  Sutton 
soon  followed  in  a buggy,  accompanied  by  the 
girls.  1 took  up  my  position  on  the  top  of  the 
house,  and,  with  my  spy-glass,  strained  my  eyes 
to  catch  the  first  view  as  they  approached. 

“Two  elephants,  loaded  with  tents,  first 
appeared,  but  they  stopped  when  they  arrived 
in  sight  of  the  town.  Soon  after  a long  array 
of  white  clothes  appeared  in  the  distance,  which 
we  knew  were  forerunners  of  the  long-expected. 
When  they  reached  the  place  where  the  ele- 
phants had  taken  up  their  station,  there  was  a 
great  halt.  The  native  soldiers  in  charge  of  the 
party  evidently  did  not  like  to  make  their 
entrance  into  the  place,  except  in  military  order. 
Soon  the  arrangements  were  made  and  all  moved 
forward  again,  Mrs.  Bacheler  first,  then  our 
school-girls,  and  not  far  behind  the  boys,  all 
dressed  in  their  best  Sunday  clothes,  — snowy 
white.  Then  came  the  two  large  elephants, 
with  their  towering  burdens,  followed  by  the 


MRS.  BACHELER’S  CORRESPONDENCE  239 


main  body,  consisting  of  the  larger  children, 
boys  and  girls,  in  solid  phalanx,  with  five  or 
six  soldiers,  muskets  shouldered,  on  each  flank  ; 
while  the  covered  carts,  with  some  of  the  small 
children,  baggage,  etc.,  brought  up  the  rear. 
The  new  children  — poor  things  — were  so 
dirty,  and  their  clothes  so  near  the  color  of 
the  earth,  that  I could  not  distinctly  make  them 
out,  even  with  my  glass,  until  they  were  within 
one  hundred  yards  of  us.  Soon  they  drew  up 
before  our  door ; the  soldiers  presented  arms, 
and  told  off  their  charges  one  by  one,  thirty-four 
boys,  and  sixteen  girls.”  Houses  were  ready 
for  them,  and  the  work  of  accustoming  them 
to  proper  food  and  care  was  at  once  begun. 
What  a thrilling  spectacle  ! What  a grand  work, 
not  for  carnal  show,  but  for  the  glory  of  God 
in  helping  some  of  His  benighted  ones,  this  was  ! 

The  day  after  the  coming  of  these  children 
Rev.  and  Mrs.  Ruel  Cooley  arrived  at  Balasore 
and  began  to  help  at  once,  the  care  being  divided 
between  them  and  the  Bachelers.  It  had  already 
become  apparent  that  Maria,  the  older  child, 
would  be  obliged  to  go  to  America  very  soon, 
on  account  of  delicate  health,  and  Mrs.  Bacheler’s 


240 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


health  was  gradually  declining.  Moreover,  Dr. 
Bacheler  had  been  in  India  nearly  ten  years,  as 
long  as  it  had  been  thought  safe  for  a missionary 
to  work  in  that  country  without  a furlough,  and 
they  began  to  formulate  plans  for  a change. 
How  difficult  it  was  ! Devotion  to  the  field,  and 
conditions  constantly  demanding  their  care,  led 
them  to  hold  on,  and  look  for  temporary  relief, 
at  least. 

Cholera  broke  out  in  the  neighboring  villages, 
taking  off  entire  families,  and  requiring  much 
care  for  the  station.  The  Khand  children  had 
become  very  interesting,  giving  themselves  to 
learning  and  industries,  and  also  to  religion. 
A fearful  cyclone  had  injured  all  the  dwellings 
in  the  Christian  village,  and  some  of  them 
severely ; unroofing  them,  and  even  tumbling 
down  the  walls ; these  had  to  be  repaired  or 
rebuilt.  Then  the  foundations  of  a church 
building  had  been  laid,  and  work  on  that  needed 
to  be  pushed,  for  the  building  had  become  a 
necessity.  Moreover,  it  was  a question  where 
the  funds  were  coming  from  to  erect  the  building. 
Under  the  date  of  March  3rd,  1850,  Dr.  Bacheler 
says  : — 


MRS.  BACHELER’S  CORRESPONDENCE  241 


“ We  must  drive  on  with  our  new  chapel,  the 
foundations  of  which  are  just  being  laid  ; but, 
alas  ! we  have  no  funds  to  do  it  with.  Shall  we 
receive  no  assistance  from  the  friends  at  home  ? 
It  is  likely  to  be  a work  of  faith,  but  1 doubt  not 
we  shall  have  a chapel,  though  whence  the 
funds  are  coming  is  as  yet  unknown  to  us.” 
Consequently,  we  find  our  missionaries  trying 
to  recuperate  near  home,  at  Midnapore,  Calcutta, 
and  farther  up  the  Ganges.  But  it  availed  little, 
Mrs.  Bacheler’s  health  was  rapidly  giving  way  ; 
it  was  feared  that  it  had  entirely  broken.  On 
the  second  of  August,  1851,  Dr.  Bacheler  wrote 
the  secretary  as  follows  : — 

“ Providence  seems  now  to  indicate  that  we 
must  leave  India  as  soon  as  possible.  Mrs. 
Bacheler  has  been  confined  to  her  room  most 
of  the  time  for  the  last  five  weeks,  and  is  now 
very  little  better.  Her  great  trials  have  usually 
commenced  towards  the  close  of  the  rains,  and 
continued  four  or  five  months.  This  year  they 
came  on  nearly  three  months  earlier  than  in 
former  years,  and  with  increasing  severity.  Her 
constitution  is  gone,  and  it  is  useless  to  flatter 
ourselves  with  hopes  that  can  never  be  realized.” 


242 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


The  Mission  Committee  in  Orissa  passed  the 
following  resolution  : — 

“Resolved,  That  in  view  of  Sister  Bacheler’s 
long-continued  ill  health,  and  in  accordance  with 
medical  advice,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  unless 
there  should  be  a speedy  change  for  the  better, 
Brother  Bacheler  should  seek  the  restoration  of 
her  health  by  a return  for  a season  to  their  native 
land.” 

The  work  had  become  very  dear  to  them  ; 
they  had  many  important  things  in  hand.  The 
Balasore  church  building*  which  Dr.  Bacheler 
was  constructing  was  not  yet  completed,  but 
the  preservation  of  Mrs.  Bacheler’s  life  was 
an  important  matter.  The  best  possible  pro- 
vision for  the  field  had  been  made.  The  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  Phillips  had  decided  to  remain  for  a 
time  longer.  The  Rev.  Ruel  Cooley,  wife,  and 
Miss  Crawford  had  come  to  Balasore,  and  the 

‘This  church  was  completed  and  dedicated  on  March  12th.  1854. 
during  a session  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  held  at  that  place.  It  was  a 
fine,  substantial  building,  made  of  brick,  seventy-four  feet  long  and 
forty  feet  wide.  After  being  four  years  in  construction,  the  dedi- 
catory exercises  of  the  church  brought  joy  to  the  mission.  It 
reflected  much  credit  on  Dr.  Bacheler,  who  planned  the  building,  and  — 
seconded  by  Mr.  Cooley,  into  whose  hands  it  fell  for  completion — he 
was  the  inspiration  for  its  construction.  It  remains,  to  the  present  time, 
a monument  to  his  sagacity  and  perseverance. 


/ 


MRS.  BACHELER’S  CORRESPONDENCE  243 


Rev.  Benjamin  B.  Smith  and  his  wife  had  been 
accepted  as  missionaries. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  1851,  Mrs.  Bacheler, 
with  three  of  the  children,  left  the  Balasore 


BALASORE  CHURCH 

mission  station,  and  went  on  board  a Govern- 
ment brig  bound  for  Calcutta.  The  captain  was 
a neighbor,  and  had  kindly  offered  her  a free 
passage.  For  some  days  a headwind  prevented 


244 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


the  brig  from  getting  out  of  the  river ; then  a 
gale  came  on,  which  wrecked  some  seventy-five 
out  of  eighty  vessels,  belonging  to  Balasore. 
Dr.  Bacheler  went  on  board  just  as  the  gale 
began.  The  brig  dragged  her  anchor,  and  was 
saved  from  stranding  only  by  cutting  away  her 
masts.  After  this  narrow  escape  from  shipwreck 
— which  was  a great  strain  upon  the  invalid  — 
they  were  compelled  to  go  to  Calcutta  by  land. 
They  arrived  there  November  17th,  and  were 
obliged  to  remain  until  the  22nd  of  December. 

Passage  was  engaged  to  London  on  a large 
English  passenger  ship,  for  $950.  It  was  im- 
possible for  them  to  .remain  in  India,  and  yet 
how  great  was  the  undertaking  for  them  to  re- 
turn home.  Mrs.  Bacheler  was  an  invalid. 
There  were  in  the  party,  besides  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Bacheler,  Maria  and  Albert,  Dr.  Bacheler’s 
oldest  children,  the  two  boys  of  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Phillips,  James  and  John,  coming  to  America  to 
be  educated,  and  the  three  children  born  to  the 
second  Mrs.  Bacheler  in  Balasore,  Kate  (Kather- 
ine Elizabeth),  Harry  (Henry  Martyn),  and 
Frank  Frederick.  On  the  earnest  recommen- 
dation of  friends,  they  took  a native  to  assist 


MRS.  BACHELER’S  CORRESPONDENCE  245 


the  family  in  the  passage.  They  were  fortu- 
nate in  securing  the  services  of  one  of  Dr. 
Bacheler’s  converts,  whose  wife  had  gone  to 
England  in  attendance  upon  a lady.  Desiring 
to  meet  his  wife  there,  he  was  glad  to  go  for  his 
fare  out  and  back,  which  was  $120.  It  was 
fortunate  that  he  went,  for  he  was  very  atten- 
tive and  helpful  when  the  party  was  brought 
into  severe  straits.  All  the  children  and  Dr. 
Bacheler  had  whooping-cough  after  leaving  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  During  the  voyage  a 
baby  girl  — Annie  Barham  — was  born  to  them, 
and  both  child  and  mother  required  special  care. 
The  cough  took  a severe  hold  of  little  Katie, 
and,  after  the  party  reached  London,  she  died. 
Her  death,  under  these  circumstances,  left  a 
deep  mark  upon  the  mother’s  heart  which  was 
never  quite  obliterated.  In  a letter  to  her  sister 
Dora,  after  arriving  home,  Mrs.  Bacheler  says  : 
“ You  have  heard  ere  this  of  the  death  of  our 
darling  Kate.  She  became  an  angel  in  London, 
on  the  17th  of  May  (1852),  and  her  dear  re- 
mains repose  in  Brompton  Cemetery,  in  the 
suburbs  of  London,  a sweeter  place  than  which 
I cannot  imagine,  and  we  trust  that  the  place 


246 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


of  the  earthly  repose  symbolizes  in  some  slight 
degree  the  abode  of  her  happy  spirit.”  Katie 
was  about  four  years  of  age  when  she  died. 
The  party  arrived  in  London  on  the  30th  of 
April  and  left  the  28th  of  May,  in  the  packet 
ship  Ocean  Queen,  arriving  in  New  York  on 
July  10th. 

There  must  have  been  great  sadness  in  this 
home-coming  to  Dr.  Bacheler.  The  wife  who 
went  out  with  him  had  finished  her  work,  and 
her  mortal  form  had  been  laid  amid  the  burn- 
ing sands  of  India.  One  little  child  had  been 
buried  on  the  home  journey.  It  was  feared 
that  the  present  Mrs.  Bacheler  would  never  re- 
cover from  the  shock  which  her  constitution 
had  received ; he  must  provide  for  his  family 
and  do  what  he  could  for  the  mission,  although 
his  own  health  had  felt  the  effects  of  over 
eleven  years  spent  in  trying,  hard  work,  amid 
difficult  conditions  and  under  a tropical  sun.  He 
entered  upon  the  task  before  him  with  great 
fortitude,  realizing  that  he  belonged  to  Him 
upon  whose  altar  he  had  laid  himself  and  his. 


CHAPTER  X 

HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON  — MISSION 
AGENT  TO  THE  CHURCHES  — CORRE- 
SPONDING SECRETARY— TO  INDIA 
THE  SECOND  TIME. 

IT  had  been  apparent  for  some  time  that  the 
work  of  a returned  missionary  among  the 
churches  would  afford  stimulus  and  create  inter- 
est. Dr.  Bacheler  seemed  to  be  just  the  man 
for  this,  and  the  opportunity  to  secure  him  for 
such  a service  had  come.  Consequently,  he 
was  at  once  constituted  mission  agent,  to  labor 
among  the  churches. 

For  a time,  Maria  and  Albert  went  to  live 
with  their  mother’s  older  brother,  William 
Palmer,  of  Roxbury,  Mass.  Mrs.  Bacheler  and 
the  three  younger  children  remained  with  Dr. 
Bacheler’s  sister,  Mrs.  Johnson,  at  Topsham, 
Me.,  for  six  weeks,  and  then  went  to  Hanover, 
N.  H.,  to  spend  the  winter,  boarding  with  a 
Mrs.  Eaton.  In  the  next  spring  the  family 
went  to  New  Hampton,  N.  H.,  to  live. 


248 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


The  annual  allowance  from  the  Society  was 
$350.  Dr.  Bacheler  worked  one  year,  and 
fell  behind  $100.  The  Society  then  raised' 
the  amount  to  $400.  He  worked  another  year, 
and  fell  behind  $100  again.  Finally,  he  informed 
the  Society  that  he  could  not  live  upon  his 
allowance,  and  made  the  proposition  that  he 
preach  in  the  interest  of  missions  on  Lord’s 
Days,  without  pay,  and  have  the  remainder  of 
the  time  to  work  as  he  chose  for  the  support 
of  his  family.  To  this  the  Society  agreed. 
During  the  week  he  devoted  himself  to  lecturing, 
having  purchased,  of  a Rev.  Mr.  Wright,  oil 
paintings  of  Indian  life  and  scenery,  with  which 
he  illustrated  his  lectures  in  a panoramic  manner. 

The  paintings  cost  him  $350.  With  these 
lectures  he  brought  up  arrearages,  and  supported 
his  family.  Not  only  did  he  raise  money  for 
the  mission,  but  he  instructed  and  interested  as 
well.  Not  long  ago  (Aug.  9,  1903)  a gentleman 
told  the  writer  that  the  first  missionary  address 
which  he  ever  heard  was  delivered  by  Dr. 
Bacheler,  with  his  panorama. 

In  1854,  Dr.  Bacheler  bought  four  acres  of 
poor,  sandy  land  of  Col.  R.  G.  Lewis.  He  then 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


249 


purchased  an  old  barn  of  Deacon  Gordon,  moved 
it  onto  a prepared  elevation,  fitted  it  up  for  a 
temporary  residence,  and  began  to  build  a home. 
He  improved  the  land,  added  more  to  it,  set 
out  fruit  and  shade  trees,  built  a house,  and 
paid  for  all  this  before  he  returned  to  India. 


HOME  MADE  BY  DR.  BACHELER  AT  NEW  HAMPTON, 

NOW  OWNED  BY  DR.  DOLLOFF 

He  was  penniless,  but,  strange  to  say,  the 
people  took  him  to  be  a person  of  means,  and 
gave  him  all  the  credit  he  wanted.  About  this 
time  he  prepared  and  published  a book,  called 
“ Hinduism  and  Christianity  in  Orissa,”  which 
passed  through  three  editions.  Taking  a small 


250 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


quantity  of  these  books  with  him  on  his  travels, 
he  sold  them  as  he  could.  The  three  editions 
cost  about  $1,000,  but  they  sold  readily,  and 
the  expense  was  soon  met.  It  is  unfortunate 
that  this  book  has  been  entirely  sold  out,  for 
it  is  of  nearly  as  much  value  now  as  it  was 
when  published,  fifty  years  ago.  It  gives  a his- 
torical account  of  India,  and  particularly  of  the 
portions  occupied  by  the  Free  Baptist  Mission, 
treats  of  the  animals,  reptiles,  insects,  birds,  and 
fish  of  the  country  ; also,  of  the  seasons,  customs, 
manners,  and  life  of  the  people,  the  different 
races,  the  languages,  literature,  and  religions. 
Considerable  space  is  devoted  to  Hindu  mythol- 
ogy, the  gods,  temples,  and  worship,  human 
sacrifices,  and  Indian  philosophy. 

It  also  contains  a valuable  account  of  the 
origin  of  the  Free  Baptist  Mission  Society  and 
its  work  up  to  that  time,  the  stations,  different 
kinds  of  people  dealt  with,  and  the  various  sorts 
of  work  undertaken,  with  a summary  of  results 
in  each  department  of  endeavor.  Those  who 
are  fortunate  enough  to  possess  this  work  are 
fortunate  indeed.  But  how  he  found  time  to 
write  and  publish  it,  with  his  manifold  other 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


251 


duties,  is  almost  a mystery.  It  came  as  a part 
of  the  great  product  of  untiring,  methodical, 
painstaking  industry  which  ever  characterized 
his  life.  He  was  necessarily  away  from  home 
most  of  the  time,  and  consequently  his  pur- 
chases of  material  and  lumber  for  his  house 
were  not  advantageous.  The  years  of  ’54  and 
’55  were  severe  for  the  family,  and  for  him  as 
well,  but  his  courage  was  good,  and  he  worked 
on  cheerfully.  When  speaking  of  these  years 
afterwards,  he  said  : “ I now  look  back  with 

wonder  at  my  courage  and  hopefulness.”  In 
those  times,  after  an  absence  of  weeks,  he  would 
come  home  for  a few  days,  always  finding 
bills  to  be  paid,  but  rarely,  if  ever,  finding  their 
equivalent  in  work.  But  he  was  quite  helpless, 
his  duties  kept  him  much  away,  and  amid  them 
he  earned  the  money  to  pay  the  bills.  Once 
he  got  thoroughly  homesick,  and  longed  for  a 
little  time  to  be  with  his  family,  and  superintend 
the  work  of  building.  He  asked  the  treasurer 
of  the  Society  for  a loan  of  $100,  and  offered 
security  on  his  library.  He  declined,  saying 
that  such  security  was  not  satisfactory,  conse- 
quently he  was  obliged  to  continue  his  work 


252 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


among  the  churches,  but  during  the  time  that 
the  $100  would  have  lasted  he  had  the  unprece- 
dented good  fortune  to  clear  $300,  with  the 
feeling  that  Providence  favored  his  efforts. 

For  a time,  when  the  family  first  came  to 
New  Hampton,  a home  was  found  in  a cottage 
afterward  owned  by  Deacon  Carter.  Then,  in 
order  to  be  just  opposite  the  house  being  built, 
they  moved  into  a cottage  owned  by  Polly 
Sanborn.  Here,  in  March,  1854,  the  youngest 
child,  Annie  Barham,  who  was  born  on  the  way 
from  India,  died  of  membraneous  croup.  She  is 
said  to  have  been  a very  sweet  and  beautiful 
child.  Dr.  Bacheler  was  away  in  Maine  at  the 
time  of  her  death,  off  the  line  of  usual  communi- 
cation, and  it  was  five  days  after  before  he  could 
reach  home ; but  it  was  winter,  and  she  retained 
her  beauty  even  in  death. 

Dr.  Bacheler  was  the  wonder  and  curiosity 
of  the  village  in  those  days.  The  barn,  fitted 
up  as  an  ell,  seemed  very  high,  as  it  was 
placed  on  stilts  for  underfilling.  The  first  win- 
ter of  its  occupancy  was  a very  windy  one. 
A neighbor,  Mr.  Burpee,  said  he  sometimes  got 
up  in  the  night  to  see  if  it  had  not  blown  down. 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


253 


It  was  rough  and  curious  in  appearance,  but  the 
family  were  brave,  a home  was  the  aim,  and  it 
was  secured.  In  1856,  a comfortable  two-story 
house  was  finished,  to  which  the  ell  was  attached 
as  a kitchen. 

During  the  first  year  after  his  agency  for 
the  mission  work  began,  the  income  for  the  Home 
Mission  treasury  increased  $1,448.61,  and  that 
for  the  Foreign  Mission  treasury  increased 
$ 1,381.82.  During  the  following  year  the  income 
was  still  larger.  Rev.  Henry  Covil,  of  Michigan, 
became  greatly  interested  in  the  work,  travelled 
several  months  with  Dr.  Bacheler,  visiting 
churches,  and  finally  was  sent  out  as  a mis- 
sionary, sailing  from  Boston  in  September,  1854. 
His  stay  in  the  field  was  not  a lengthy  one, 
however. 

Among  the  first  fields  visited  by  the  new 
mission  agent  was  Rhode  Island.  Of  his  work 
there,  and  the  attitude  of  the  churches  toward  it, 
he  wrote  as  follows  in  The  Morning  Star  of  Sept. 
29,  1852  : — 

East  longmeadow,  Sept.  17, 1852. 
-Dear  Brother  Burr:  — 

I have  nearly  accomplished  my  agency  in  Rhode  Island, 
having  visited  most  of  the  churches  in  that  state,  and 


254 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


the  neighboring  ones  in  Massachusetts.  1 have  been 
received  with  kindness  by  the  brethren  there,  and  have 
been  in  many  respects  pleased  with  my  visit.  It  strikes 
me  that  great  improvements  have  been  made  in  our 
denomination  these  last  few  years.  The  ministers  gen- 
erally are  of  an  improved  class,  and  there  are,  1 should 
think,  a greater  number  of  educated  men  than  can  be 
found  elsewhere  in  the  same  extent  of  country.  The 
churches  are  neater  and  more  commodious  than  I had 
expected  to  see.  Many  of  them  have  bells,  and  nearly 
all  have  organs  or  seraphines.  All  this  is  indicative  of 
progress  in  the  right  direction.  In  regard  to  ministerial 
support,  there  has  been  considerable  improvement  in 
some  places,  no  doubt,  still  there  is  great  need  for  more. 
Most  of  our  ministers  have  to  struggle  hard  to  live,  and 
that  not  for  the  want  of  wealth  in  the  churches,  for  in 
most  places  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  give  these  min- 
isters a comfortable  support,  were  it  not  that  the  spirit 
of  Christian  benevolence  is  at  a very  low  ebb.  Doctrines 
contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  have  long  since  been 
preached  and  have  taken  deep  hold  on  the  public  mind. 
A “free  gospel’’  and  a “free  salvation,”  by  which  is 
understood  freedom  from  supporting  the  gospel  and  freedom 
from  consecration  to  the  service  of  Christ,  have  been 
favorite  doctrines  with  many.  And  these  sentiments 
are  so  much  in  consonance  with  the  carnal  feeling,  that 
it  will  be  long  before  they  can  be  thoroughly  counteracted 
and  rooted  out,  and,  until  they  are,  a high  degree  of 
prosperity  cannot  be  expected. 

My  mission  has  been  one  of  mingled  pleasure  and  pain. 
I have  met  with  a kind,  and,  in  many  places,  a cordial 
reception.  The  congregations  that  1 have  had  the  pleasure 
of  addressing  have  been  as  attentive,  apparently  as  inter- 
ested, as  I could  desire,  but  the  collections  have  been 
extremely  small,  and  this  not  for  a want  of  interest,  but 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


255 


for  a want  of  due  appreciation  of  the  claims  of  the 
heathen  upon  the  Christian  church.  Many  do  not 
acknowledge  that  duty  requires  them  to  serve  God  with 
their  property,  or  to  make  sacrifices  for  their  fellow-men. 
The  collections  have  averaged  about  two  cents  for  each 
person  attending  my  lectures.  In  some  of  the  largest 
and  most  wealthy  churches,  they  have  rather  fallen 
short  of  that.  1 have  often  seen  the  people  weep  at 
the  description  of  the  wretchedness  of  the  heathen,  who, 
when  the  collection  was  taken,  would  show  that  their 
feelings  were  only  two  cents  deep ! How  cheap  are 
tears  in  Rhode  Island  ! 1 wonder  if  I shall  find  it  the 
same  among  our  people  generally. 

It  is  but  just  to  mention  that  my  appointments  for 
several  places  were  given  out  on  a rainy  Sabbath,  when 
there  were  few  people  present,  and  consequently  the 
meetings  were  not  extensively  known. 

It  seems  to  me  that  our  ministry  generally  are  in  fault 
in  regard  to  our  benevolent  enterprises.  They  are  not 
to  a sufficient  extent  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  people, 
and  I presume  that,  in  many  places,  much  more  would 
be  done  were  an  opportunity  given  to  contribute,  and 
the  attention  of  the  people  called  to  these  subjects. 
Most  of  the  churches  do  very  little  for  Foreign  and  Home 
Missions ; in  but  a few  places  is  there  anything  like 
systematic  effort.  The  ministers,  generally,  show  a lack 
of  interest  in  these  things;  their  own  trials  absorb  so 
much  of  their  attention,  that  they  have  little  time  to 
bestow  on  the  woes  of  others. 

I attended  the  yearly  meeting  at  Pawtucket,  where  I 
hoped  the  subject  of  missions  would  have  received  some 
attention,  especially  as  there  were  three  returned  mission- 
aries present;  but  while  1 remained,  the  subject  was  not 
named,  and,  as  no  opportunity  was  offered  me  for  doing 
otherwise,  I was  obliged  to  keep  silent.  I hope  that  some 


256 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


good  may  yet  result  from  my  feeble  efforts  in  Rhode 
Island,  although  some  more  tangible  proof  of  the  interest 
of  the  people  in  the  cause  of  missions  would  have  been 
more  satisfactory. 

O.  R.  BACHELER. 

Dr.  Bacheler  then  visited  the  church  at 
Blackstone,  Mass.,  and,  although  the  congregation 
was  not  so  large  or  wealthy  as  some  visited,  he 
secured  the  largest  collection  taken,  up  to  this 
time.  His  next  tour  took  him  through  the 
central  portion  of  New  Hampshire,  mostly  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  railroads.  Here  he  found  more 
interest  and  the  collections  averaged  about  eight 
cents  for  every  individual  present.  In  the  Lis- 
bon Quarterly  Meeting,  the  work  seemed  par- 
ticularly profitable,  as  the  appointments  had 
been  made  by  Rev.  Mr.  Blake  and  others.  His 
observations  brought  him  to  the  following  con- 
clusions : — 

1.  Well  organized  churches  where  system 
prevailed  were  usually  interested  in  missions. 
Unsettled  churches  took  little  interest. 

2.  Churches  which  had  for  a considerable 
time  been  supplied  and  not  enjoyed  prosperity 
were  not  ready  to  help  others,  as  they  had  not 
been  accustomed  to  help  themselves. 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


257 


3.  Churches  which  had  advocated  the  non- 
supported, non-educated  ministry  were  invari- 
ably in  the  background. 

4.  Hearty  co-operation  with  missions  on  the 
part  of  the  pastor  is  necessary  to  influence  the 
church. 

Following  his  work  in  New  Hampshire  he 
visited  Canada  East  and  the  northern  part  of 
Vermont.  In  the  Vermont  churches  which  had 
pastors  he  found  considerable  interest.  In  Can- 
ada the  people  present  contributed  about  twelve 
cents  per  head,  going  ahead  of  New  Hampshire. 
During  this  trip  he  met  a Congregational  minis- 
ter in  the  cars  who  said  that  the  result  of  the 
lectures  of  a returned  missionary  in  a certain 
locality  was  to  make  the  young  people  and  chil- 
dren saucy.  When  asked  to  explain,  he  said 
that  when  the  youth  of  the  locality  found  that 
their  parents  had  been  so  disobedient  to  their 
Heavenly  Father,  they  lost  respect  for  them 
and  felt  less  obligation  to  be  obedient  to  them. 
Perhaps  this  may  account  for  the  increasing 
lack  of  respect  and  obedience  on  the  part  of 
the  youth  in  many  localities  ! 

In  ’56  he  visited  the  General  Conference  of 


258 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Free  Baptists  in  New  Brunswick  and  spent 
some  time  among  the.  people,  presenting  the 
mission  cause  to  them.  Dula  Phillips  accom- 
panied him  on  this  tour  and  often  spoke.  The 
yearly  meeting  was  held  at  St.  John’s.  The 
people  received  him  kindly,  manifested  much 
enthusiasm,  and  contributed  toward  the  work 
with  some  generosity.  Without  any  doubt,  the 
deep  and  helpful  interest  manifested  by  this 
people  in  missions  during  later  years  is  in  no 
small  degree  due  to  the  awakening  brought  about 
at  that  time. 

All  of  the  hardships  and  inconveniences  to 
the  missionary  were  not  found  in  India,  but 
some  experiences  in  this  country  were  more 
inconvenient  and  fear-inspiring  than  those  in  the 
Mohurbunge  of  Bengal.  One  experience  of 
this  New  Brunswick  trip  remained  fresh  in  his 
mind  to  the  end  of  life.  He  relates  it  as  fol- 
lows : — 

“There  was  present  at  the  yearly  meeting  a 
negro  preacher,  whom  the  brethren  treated  coldly. 
1 had  some  talk  with  him.  He  said  there  was  a 
little  community  of  his  people  about  twenty- 
five  miles  away,  and  asked  me  to  visit  them. 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


259 


The  people  advised  me  not  to  go.  1 told 
them  1 should.  A few  days  after  I did  go. 
The  road  was  rough.  I got  there  a little  before 
evening,  and  attended  a meeting.  1 spoke  to 
them  of  the  work  of  God  among  the  Hindus, 
and  told  them  how  the  door  of  faith  had  been 
opened  among  the  Gentiles  far  away,  to  which 
they  listened  with  apparent  joy.  After  our 
meeting  had  closed,  the  school  teacher,  an  intel- 
lectual colored  woman,  came  forward  and  begged 
me  to  accept  a ‘ widow’s  mite  ’ for  the  heathen, 
as  she  laid  down  a dollar  bill  ; others  followed 
with  their  quarters  and  their  pennies,  while 
others  regretted  that  they  had  not  known  of 
the  meeting  earlier,  that  they  might  have  been 
prepared. 

“ Some  of  my  white  friends  had  said,  ‘ You 
will  not  think  of  stopping  all  night  among  the 
negroes,’  and  I replied,  with  a degree  of  pride, 
‘Of  course  l shall,  if  1 can  find  a place  to  stop  in.’ 
So,  after  meeting,  1 returned  with  my  kind  host. 

1 told  them  1 would  make  myself  a bed  with 
my  buffalo  and  cloak  on  the  floor,  where  I should 
be  very  comfortable,  but  no,  that  would  never 
do  ; 1 must  have  a bed,  and  the  best  in  the 


260 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


house.  They  assured  me  they  should  have 
no  difficulty,  as  they  often  took  a boarder,  which 
1 could  not  precisely  understand,  a&  there  was 
but  one  room  in  the  house,  and,  so  far  as  1 could 
judge,  about  a bed  and  a half,  and  their  family 
was  large.  So,  for  fear  of  giving  offence,  1 
allowed  them  to  have  their  own  way. 

" 1 was  tucked  away  in  the  best  bed,  while 
the  one-half  bed  and  the  trundle-bed  that  then 
appeared,  the  benches  and  the  floor,  were  occu- 
pied by  the  rest  of  the  family.  The  odor  of  the 
bed  was  not  very  agreeable,  but  1 flattered 
myself  that,  once  in  oblivion,  1 should  not  be 
disturbed,  so  raising  my  olfactories  high  in  air 
and  compressing  them  to  their  smallest  working 
calibre,  1 courted  sleep  that  came  not. 

“ Directly  1 felt  — something.  What  could  it 
be  ? The  cracks  in  the  log  wall  looked  sus- 
picious. 1 searched  for  bugs,  but  found  none. 
The  sensation  continued,  and  at  different  points. 
It  must  be  imagination.  I wondered  if  1 was 
getting  nervous.  Directly  1 heard  a snap,  gentle 
as  a spirit’s  rap,  and,  at  the  same  time,  I felt 
something  alight  upon  me.  And  then  another, 
and  another  of  the  same.  It  was  not  imagination ; 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


261 


I was  not  nervous.  1 was  really  beset  by  a 

host  of .charging  down  upon  me  like  troops 

of  Lilliputians,  invisible,  yet  really  there.  1 
thought  of  my  experience  among  Hindu  mos- 
quitoes, and  drew  on  my  clothes,  but  it  was  of 
no  use  — my  enemies  were  not  mosquitoes. 
Directly  they  were  within  my  stockings,  under- 
neath my  clothes,  still  charging  on  with  all  their 
fury.  I was  worse  off  than  ever ; they  were 
out  of  my  reach,  while  I was  not  out  of  theirs  ; 
that  was  certain.  What  could  I do  ? 1 had  a 

lecture  advertised  for  the  next  evening,  twenty- 
five  miles  away.  How  could  1 make  the  journey, 
over  a rough  road,  under  a hot  sun,  and  lecture 
in  the  evening  without  sleep?  I should  fall 
asleep  while  lecturing.  1 was  desperate.  But 
desperation  brought  no  sleep,  neither  did  it 
reduce  the  number  of  my  enemies.  It  was  mid- 
night, and  would  not  be  light  until  four  o’clock. 
I must  not  leave  my  bed  before  light,  lest  my 
kind  host  should  think  that  I had  not  been 
comfortable.  So,  summoning  all  my  Anglo- 
Saxon  powers  of  endurance,  bracing  every 
muscle,  ‘hanging  taut’  every  nerve,  I bade 
defiance  to  my  foes,  telling  them  I was  there 


262 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


for  four  hours,  there  I should  stay,  and  that 
they  might  do  their  worst.  They  accepted  the 
challenge  in  full,  1 should  judge.  Toward  morn- 
ing 1 fell  into  a doze  from  sheer  exhaustion,  and 
dreamed  of  fleas.  But  every  long  night  has 
an  end,  and  so  had  that  one.  The  gray  light 
of  morning  came  stealing  through  the  cracks 
between  the  logs,  and  1 crept  forth  and  shook 
myself,  walked,  ran,  and  shook  myself  again. 
While  1 was  in  motion,  my  enemies  rested;  when 
1 rested,  they  commenced  their  work ; so, 
returning  to  the  house,  1 partook  of  a hearty 
breakfast,  craved  a blessing  upon  the  heads  of 
the  kind  family,  assuring  them,  in  response  to 
their  kind  invitation,  that  I would  come  and 
see  them  if  1 ever  came  that  way  again,  and 
then  jostled  furiously  over  twenty-five  miles 
of  rough  road,  fancying  that  1 had  conquered 
at  last.  But,  no.  1 still  had  friends,  ‘sticking 
closer  than  a brother,’  and  when  they  left  me  1 
do  not  know.  Do  you  ask  what  it  was  that 
annoyed  me?  1 cannot  tell  positively,  for  I saw 
nothing.  I had  never  felt  a flea,  but  since  that 
night  my  nerves  will  no  more  allow  me  to  sleep 
in  bed  with  fleas  than  in  a hornet’s  nest.” 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


263 


Late  in  the  year  1856  he  took  a trip  westward, 
proceeding  through  Ohio  to  Michigan.  All  along 
the  way  he  told  his  story  of  the  condition  of 
India,  her  need  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and,  consequently,  missionaries  and  the  means 
to  support  them.  It  will  be  of  interest  to  report 
here  some  of  his  experiences  and  conclusions  on 
this  tour,  although  they  are  not  all  flattering 
to  the  people  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 
He  relates  his  experiences  under  the  title  of 
“Impressions  on  a Flying  Trip  Westward.” 

“ The  Hindus  tell  the  story  that  five  blind  men 
went  to  see  an  elephant.  The  first  caught  hold 
of  his  trunk,  the  second  of  his  tusk,  the  third  of 
his  ear,  the  fourth  of  his  leg,  the  fifth  of  his  tail. 
Having  satisfied  their  curiosity  they  departed. 

“A  neighbor  shouted  after  them  as  they  passed 
along,  ‘ Halloa,  you  blind  men,  where  have  you 
been  ?’ 

“‘O,  we’ve  been  to  see  the  elephant.’ 

“ ‘ Well,  have  you  seen  him?  ’ 

“ ‘ Yes.’ 

“ ‘ What  is  he  like  ? ’ 

“ The  first  said,  ‘ He  is  like  a cable,  soft  and 
smooth.’  The  second,  ‘ He  is  like  a stake,  pared, 


264 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  a little  curved.’  The  third,  'He  is  like  a 
fan.’  The  fourth,  ‘ He  is  like  a post.’  And  the 
fifth  said,  ‘ What  stupid  fellows  you  all  are,  you 
blind  men  ! he  is  like  a rope  ! ’ 

“ Several  correspondents  of  The  Star  have 
been  to  the  West,  and  given  their  impressions  in 
The  Star,  not  always  the  most  harmonious,  or 
satisfactory  to  one  another,  yet,  1 presume  cor- 
rect, in  reference  to  certain  standpoints,  and 
erroneous  from  others.  I have  not  been  to  the 
West,  but  toward  it,  where  1 could  look  west- 
ward, see  people  going  west,  and  within  five 
hundred  miles  of  where  they  say  the  West 
begins.  1 have  endeavored  to  collect  facts,  and 
have  received  some  impressions  that  may  be  of 
service  to  others. 

“I  left  home  early  in  November;  spent  two 
months  in  New  York,  a few  days  in  Canada, 
two  weeks  in  Michigan,  and  two  weeks  in 
northern  Ohio.  My  impressions  must,  of  course, 
bear  a muddy  aspect.  My  ideas  of  the  West 
were  verified  in  New  York,  but  not  beyond.” 

In  New  York  he  was  very  sadly  impressed 
with  the  prevalence  of  drunkenness  and  the 
drink  habit,  and  said  that  he  saw  more  rowdyism 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


265 


and  drunkenness  in  New  York  in  one  day  than  he 
had  seen  in  New  England  in  four  years.  In  Can- 
ada West  it  was  much  the  same.  When  he 
arrived  in  Michigan  he  recognized  the  great  want 
of  the  State  at  that  time  to  be  men,  land  being 
so  high  that  little  inducement  was  offered  to 
settlers ; consequently,  the  tide  of  emigration 
swept  by  to  the  far  West.  Farms  moderately 
improved  were  held  at  from  $25  to  $60  per 
acre.  Village  lots  in  thriving  villages  were 
selling  at  from  $1,000  to  $2,000  per  acre,  and 
in  larger  towns  at  higher  prices.  The  expecta- 
tions of  the  people  were  most  extravagant ; the 
State  ere  long  would  be  thickly  studded  with 
populous  cities  and  flourishing  villages,  according 
to  their  prophecy. 

He  regarded  Ohio  as  a beautiful  country, 
laid  out  by  nature  for  a great  garden.  He  says  : 
“ When  a boy  I used  to  hear  great  accounts  of 
this  same  Ohio.  Then  it  was  said  there  were 
pigs  ready  roasted,  with  knife  and  fork  stuck 
in  their  backs,  running  through  the  streets, 
crying,  ‘Come  and  eat  me.’  But  times  have 
changed.  The  country  is  there,  so  are  the  pigs, 
but  the  cry  is  changed  to,  ‘Come  and  feed  me.’ 


266 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Land  is  very  high  in  Ohio,  so  high  1 was  told 
that  the  farmers  realize  only  from  four  to  five 
per  cent  on  their  investments.” 

He  found  a change  from  the  old  paths  relig- 
iously, and  it  seemed  to  him  that  the  people 
had  transformed  Scripture,  so  that  its  meaning 
was  greatly  changed.  For  instance,  the  people 
seemed  to  understand  some  portions  of  the  Word 
as  follows  : “ Thou  shalt  . . . muzzle  the  ox,” 
“ It  is  more  blessed  to  receive  than  to  give.” 
Instead  of,  “Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and 
preach,”  the  idea  seemed  to  be,  “I  stay  at 
home  and  preach.”  Again  for,  “Study  to  show 
thyself  approved,”  " Study  not,  for  God  will  be 
your  preparation.”  All  this  may  seem  to  some 
harsh  criticism,  but  it  is  just  how  some  existing 
conditions  at  that  time  would  appear  to  one  who 
had  laid  all  upon  the  altar  of  God,  ready  to 
spend  and  be  spent  for  the  salvation  of  his  fellow- 
men,  and  filled  with  religious  enthusiasm. 

He  was  glad  to  find  in  New  York  a good 
number  of  living  churches,  with  the  old  gospel 
for  a text-book,  striving  against  the  powers  of 
darkness,  and  striving  successfully.  He  felt 
deeply  impressed  in  every  place  that  a deeper 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


267 


interest  in  missions  would  give  larger  life  to 
the  church,  a fact  which  has  been  amply  demon- 
strated since,  throughout  the  denomination. 

In  Michigan  he  found  during  his  ten  weeks’ 
stay  only  one  minister  living  by  the  ministry, 
and  he  seemed  to  be  “boarding  round”  like 
an  old-fashioned  schoolmaster.  Even  at  that 
time  emigration  from  the  state  was  increasing. 
He  states  that  almost  the  only  redeeming  thing 
he  saw  in  Michigan  was  Hillsdale  College, 
“standing  forth  in  its  majesty  and  glory,  an 
oasis  as  fertile  as  Egypt,  in  the  midst  of  a desert 
as  barren  as  Sahara.  The  right  men  have 
charge  of  that  institution,  they  have  conceived 
the  right  idea,  and  it  will  succeed  ; more  than 
that,  our  little  churches  in  the  West  will  be 
regenerated  and  redeemed.  The  day  that  saw 
the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  noble  insti- 
tution will  prove  the  harbinger  of  a long  day 
of  glory  to  our  Zion  in  the  West.”  This  prophecy 
of  a true  modern  prophet  has  been,  and  is  being, 
fulfilled. 

He  found  the  Ashtabula  Quarterly  Meeting 
in  Ohio  with  a lively  interest  in  the  world,  and 
the  heathen  not  forgotten.  His  visit  to  the 


268 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


churches  in  this  section  was  pleasant  and  profit- 
able. From  Ohio  he  went  to  northern  New 
York,  expecting  to  find  a lively  interest  in  mis- 
sions there,  as  three  fellow-laborers  in  India 
were  from  that  section,  but  in  this  he  was  dis- 
appointed, as  the  interest  was  less  than  he 
anticipated. 

A visit  to  the  former  home  of  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
Noyes  was  painfully  interesting.  The  cottage 
built,  in  part  at  least,  by  his  own  hands,  and 
which  they  vacated  on  going  to  India,  was 
dressed  in  mourning  for  its  absent  owner. 
Though  situated  in  a thriving  and  rapidly  growing 
village,  it  had  yielded  him  nothing,  during  his 
seven  years  of  absence,  beyond  paying  the 
expenses  of  trifling  repairs  and  finishing  off  a 
portion  which  was  not  completed  when  he  left  — 
and  all  for  want  of  care.  “And  this,”  says  Dr. 
Bacheler,  “ is  the  reward  one  receives  while 
doing  the  work  of  the  churches  in  a foreign 
land!”  His  great  soul  was  filled  with  indigna- 
tion, and  he  added:  “If  I had  a faithful  dog 
in  foreign  service  my  feelings  would  prompt 
me  to  keep  his  kennel  in  repair,  out  of  respect 
to  the  dog.”  However,  he  always  knew  how 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


269 


to  encourage  the  churches  to  do  their  best,  and 
look  on  the  bright  side  of  the  work. 

A report  of  his  address  at  a public  meeting 
at  Lake  Village,  N.  H.,  at  about  this  time, 
says : — 

“His  aim  was  to  cheer  the  hearts  of  the 
Society,  and  raise  them  above  the  possibility 
of  discouragement.  And  we  do  not  think  he 
missed  his  aim.  Certainly  he  hit  our  hearts. 
When  travelling  in  his  mission  agency,  he  has 
sometimes  labored  hard  all  day,  and  collected 
twenty-five  cents,  and  again  he  has  with  less 
labor  collected  twenty-five  dollars  ! He  retired 
to  rest  in  the  former  case  without  once  dreaming 
that  he  should  do  better,  and  in  the  latter  with- 
out hoping  that  he  should  always  do  as  well. 
He  was  never  over-elated  on  the  one  hand, 
and  never  disheartened  on  the  other.  Reverses 
were  the  common  lot  of  Christian  enterprises. 
We  should  rejoice  under  the  darkness  of  to-day 
because  it  will  be  light  to-morrow.” 

In  1857  he  also  completed  a tour  through 
Aroostook  County  in  northern  Maine.  He  was 
deeply  impressed  with  the  fertility  of  this 
remarkable  country,  the  best,  probably,  for 


270 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


farming  purposes  of  any  in  New  England,  the 
rolling  lands,  quite  free  from  stones,  producing 
potatoes,  buckwheat,  rye,  wheat,  garden  vege- 
tables, and  hay  in  abundance.  Thousands  of 
farms  could  thus  be  made  where  now  stood 
primeval  forest,  and  the  entire  expense  of  making 
the  change  could  be  met  by  the  first  two  or  three 
years,  after  deducting  a fair  remuneration  for 
the  labor  bestowed.  He  found  not  one  meeting- 
house in  the  northern  half  of  this  county.  The 
schoolhouse  was  there,  for  the  New  Englander 
must  have  schools.  In  these  they  worshipped, 
looking  forward  to  the  meeting-house  when 
their  resources  should  increase.  And  here,  he 
said,  his  congregations,  during  a six  weeks’ 
excursion, — and  in  haying  time, — were  on  an 
average  larger  than  in  villages  and  large  towns. 
Indeed,  he  often  wished,  when  addressing  con- 
gregations closely  packed  in  schoolhouses,  that 
some  of  his  brethren  in  their  comfortable 
churches  might  have  as  numerous,  attentive, 
and  intelligent  auditors. 

Aroostook  has  kept  up  the  reputation  thus 
bestowed  upon  her  for  devotion  to  the  pure 
gospel,  with  an  intelligent  understanding  and 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


271 


practice  of  it,  while,  as  wealth  has  accumulated, 
she  has  dotted  her  hills  and  valleys,  as  well  as 
furnished  her  cities  and  villages,  with  commodious 
houses  of  worship. 

He  canvassed  thoroughly  most  of  the  churches 
in  Maine,  with  excellent  results.  In  some  places 
the  enthusiasm  was  marked  and  the  collections 
were  large,  reaching  thirty,  forty,  fifty,  and  in 
one  church  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars.  The 
seminary  in  Lewiston  was  then  young  and  in 
need  of  funds,  but  the  people  of  that  locality 
needed  no  second  invitation  to  show  their  interest 
in  missions.  Portland,  Saco,  Lewiston,  and 
Auburn,  with  other  places,  heard  him  gladly 
and  gave  cheerfully.  Quarterly  meetings  helped 
generously.  Much  comfort  was  given  by  the 
young  people  of  Raymond,  who  formed  them- 
selves into  a “ Self-denying  Band,”  and  pledged 
themselves  to  give  at  least  one  dollar  a year 
each,  for  the  support  of  some  of  the  children 
of  India. 

At  this  time  Dr.  Bacheler  felt  called  upon 
to  refute  statements  made  by  one  Ganguli,  an 
East  Indian,  who  had  denied  facts  as  stated  by 
some  missionaries,  and  who  had  misrepresented 
the  conditions  in  India. 


272 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Ganguli  was  an  educated  Hindu,  a Vedantist 
Brahman.  Vedanta  embodies  the  highest  and 
purest  form  of  Hinduism,  teaching  the  worship  of 
one  god,  repudiating  idolatry,  although  the  most 
of  the  adherents  are  idolaters  in  conformity  to  the 
customs  of  society.  He  was  really  put  forth  in 
America  as  the  champion  of  Unitarianism.  When 
Dr.  Bacheler  returned  to  India  in  ’62  he  found 
Ganguli  there  ; and  while  he  taught  in  America, 
under  the  auspices  of  Unitarians,  that  Unitarian- 
ism was  the  only  form  of  Christianity  that  the 
Hindu  generally  would  receive,  he  taught  in 
India  that  he  was  the  only  convert  of  the  Uni- 
tarian Mission  in  Calcutta,  and  that  the  Mission 
had  proved  a complete  failure.* 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  Dr.  Bacheler, 
by  request  of  the  Foreign  Mission  Board,  attended 
the  Free  Christian  Baptist  Conference  in  Nova 
Scotia,  which  met  at  Cornwallis  in  the  north- 
western portion  of  the  province.  He  described 
the  occasion  as  “truly  interesting  and  refresh- 
ing.” At  this  meeting  he  presented  the  cause  of 
missions,  and  without  previous  notice  took  a 

* Ganguli  has  lived  in  Midnapore  for  several  years,  and  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Free  Baptist  church  there. 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


273 


collection  of  $14.40.  Feeling  that  there  were 
many  people  here  who  would  gladly  aid  in  the 
foreign  work,  he  proposed  a visit  to  their 
churches.  His  proposition  was  heartily  received, 
and  he  spent  six  months  among  them.  He 
visited  all  their  churches  but  two,  and  awakened 
an  interest  that  has  never  died  out.  Indeed, 
much  of  the  devotion  to  missions  which  has  been 
constantly  manifest  by  this  good  people  since, 
had  its  inception  in  the  judicious,  painstaking, 
and  zealous  work  done  by  Dr.  Bacheler  at  that 
time.  The  acquaintances  which  he  made  were 
ever  cherished  by  him  with  great  fondness,  and 
through  these  a personal  tie  to  the  mission  was 
formed  on  the  part  of  the  people.  He  became 
greatly  interested  in  them  ; the  fishermen  and 
the  boats  of  the  toilers  of  the  sea  became  as 
dear  to  him  as  the  tillers  of  the  soil,  and  the 
beautiful  farms  which  they  tilled.  He  was 
delighted  to  know  that  some  of  the  farms  were 
valued  at  $200  per  acre.  Nothing  of  interest  or 
of  value  to  mankind  could  escape  the  appreciation 
or  sympathy  of  this  noble  heart,  and  when  he 
came  to  Acadia,  the  land  of  the  old  French 
settlement,  made  famous  by  Longfellow’s  “Evam- 


274 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


geline,”  looking  upon  the  basin  of  Minas,  Grand- 
Pre,  and  the  Gaspereau,  he  read  again,  with 
more  interest  than  ever  before,  the  thrilling 
poem,  and  let  his  soul  go  out  in  pity  to  the  unfor- 
tunate company,  driven  from  their  firesides  ; to 
Gabriel  and  Evangeline,  wandering  so  long  in 
search  of  each  other,  not  knowing  when  they 
were  so  near  together,  finding  each  other  at  last 
only  among  the  shadows  of  death. 

Among  other  experiences  he  sometimes  referred 
to  one  which  he  had  in  Vermont,  beyond  the 
Green  Mountains.  He  says  : — 

“My  work  in  that  part  of  the  country  was 
done,  and  1 was  anxious  to  be  on  my  way  home, 
and  started  at  about  ten  o’clock,  after  my 
evening  lecture.  1 lost  my  way  in  the  night  by 
taking  a lumber  road,  that  seemed  to  be  the  best 
travelled.  1 went  a good  way  before  finding  my 
mistake  ; then,  turning  round  in  the  deep  snow, 
1 broke  a shaft.  1 patched  it  up  as  best  I could, 
to  prevent  it  from  pricking  the  horse,  and  then 
jogged  ora  slowly  till  morning.  When  we  reached 
Lyndon,  1 stopped  long  enough  to  get  a new 
shaft  made,  and  then  proceeded  home.” 

He  had  some  peculiar  experiences  in  Nova 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


275 


Scotia,  as  well  as  in  New  Brunswick,  though  of 
a different  character.  Of  these  he  says  : — 

“ I have  found  greater  difficulty  than  ever 
before  in  establishing  my  identity.  Efforts  have 
been  made  on  the  part  of  some  to  make  out 
that  I was  not  myself,  but  somebody  else.  In 
one  place  they  knew  all  about  Elder  Bacheler, 
but  this  was  not  the  man.  In  another,  where 
I went  to  preach  on  'Missions,’  a woman  ran 
out  of  the  congregation  as  I went  in,  then  waited 
some  time  on  the  steps  to  see  if  she  could 
summon  the  necessary  courage  to  return  ; but, 
failing  in  this,  she  went  away,  telling  a woman 
whom  she  met  by  the  way  that  ‘the  man  had 
come  from  a long  way  off,  and  she  was  afraid  of 
him.’  She  had  heard  of  the  Sepoys,  and 
probably  supposed  I was  a Sepoy,  come  to  murder 
somebody. 

“A  church  clergyman,  at  a certain  place,  asked 
me  at  the  commencement  of  my  lecture  to  explain 
its  object,  as  some  people  did  not  understand  it. 
1 asked  him  if  he  supposed  there  were  any  in  his 
vicinity  who  did  not  know  what  the  word  ‘ mis- 
sionary ’ meant.  ‘ No  doubt  there  are  a great 
many,’  was  his  reply. 


276 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


"In  my  panoramic  lectures  I have  sometimes 
given  some  description  of  the  position  of  the 
Hindus  on  the  subject  of  temperance,  which  has 
been  very  popular  with  temperance  men,  but 
the  reverse  with  some  of  the  opposite  party. 
In  the  northern  portion  of  the  province,  where 
drinking  is  more  popular  than  in  the  South,  the 
rumsellers  have  been  disposed  to  make  me  out 
an  impostor,  that  is,  so  far  as  my  having  been  a 
missionary  is  concerned.  They  are  inclined  to 
think  me  a temperance  lecturer  in  disguise. 

" Hindu  temperance  is  by  no  means  palatable 
to  rumsellers  in  a Christian  land.  In  the  streets 
of  Truro  I was  threatened  with  a horsewhipping 
by  the  rumseller  of  the  place,  because  1 had 
stated  the  position  of  the  Hindus  on  this  subject, 
which  he  considered  reflected  on  a ‘ respectable  ’ 
part  of  the  community  there.  At  my  second 
lecture  I was  interrupted  by  him  and  another, 
whom  he  had  employed  for  the  purpose,  who 
threatened  to  pull  me  from  the  platform  ‘ by 
the  wool,’  if  I did  not  hold  up.  However, 
no  harm  was  done,  except  that  some  of  the 
ladies  were  a little  frightened. 

" On  the  whole,  my  visit  to  Nova  Scotia, 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


277 


though  1 have  not  been  so  successful  as  I 
could  have  wished  in  the  interest  of  the  heathen, 
has  afforded  me  much  gratification  and  will  be 
engraved  among  pleasant  memories.” 

During  this  trip  Dr.  Bacheler  also  became 
much  interested  in  some  Indians  living  in 
the  Province,  about  two  thousand  in  num- 
ber, the  remnant  of  a once  powerful  tribe, 
the  Miemae,  to  whom  a Rev.  Mr.  Rand  was 
missionary.  Thus  Dr.  Bacheler  labored  hard  to 
interest  people  in  the  work  of  so  much  interest 
to  him  ; surely  not  without  success,  as  succeed- 
ing years  have  demonstrated.  The  interest  in 
his  lectures  at  the  time  was  marked.  Under 
date  of  Feb.  16,  1859,  Rev.  H.  Whitcher 
wrote:  “Wherever  Brother  O.  R.  Bacheler 
proposes  to  exhibit  his  panoramic  views  of 
India,  or  of  Hindu  life  and  manners,  1 hope  no 
pains  will  be  spared  to  get  a full  house,  as  it 
is  a rich  treat” 

In  the  meantime  Mrs.  Bacheler  kept  the  fire 
of  missions  burning  brightly  on  the  altar  of 
the  New  Hampton  home.  She  was  helping  to 
develop  an  interest  in  this  work,  so  dear  to 
her  heart,  in  the  school  ; and  by  strong  appeals 


278 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


endeavored  to  stir  the  people  to  a greater  • 
effort  for  it,  through  the  columns  of  The  Morn- 
ing Star.  At  the  eleventh  annual  meeting  of 
the  Free  Baptist  Female  Mission  Society,  held 
in  Lawrence,  Oct.  14,  1858,  she  gave  an 
address  on  India  work  which  was  interesting 
and  helpful.  It  dealt  especially  with  the 
pilgrimages  to  Puri,  and  what  one  might  see 
on  the  road  and  by  the  roadside.  Her  devotion 
is  set  forth  in  an  article  published  in  The  Star 
not  long  after  her  return  to  America.  It 
shows  that  though  feeble  in  body  she  was 
strong  in  desire  and  purpose  for  the  good  of 
the  people  whom  she  had  taken  into  her 
heart.  She  says  : “ After  an  absence  of  six 
years  from  my  native  land,  most  of  which  time 
has  been  spent  among  the  heathen,  1 am  once 
more  in  a land  of  Sabbaths  and  of  church- 
going. As  1 think  of  the  darkness  and  death, 
the  superstition  and  cruelty,  the  unhappy 
ignorance  and  abject  hopelessness  of  the  poor 
people  among  whom  1 have  dwelt,  and  then 
of  the  heavy,  fearful  debt  we  owe  them ; of 
the  utter  covetousness  of  many,  to  whom  in 
eternity  this  uncancelled  debt  may  prove  the 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


279 


worm  that  never  dieth  ; and  when  I think  that 
the  last  shadow  of  excuse  for  not  sending  the 
men  and  money  to  heathen  lands  to  pay 
this  fearful  debt  has  been  clearly  taken  away 
by  the  California  expedition,  an  expedition 
which  has  enlisted  the  hearts  and  energies  of 
the  ignorant  as  well  as  of  the  intelligent  men, 
of  the  female  as  well  as  of  the  male,  which 
has  made  so  many  desolate  firesides,  so  many 
widows  and  fatherless  children,  and,  may  we 
not  safely  add,  so  many  wretched  victims  of 
America’s  great  idol ; and  when  I know  that 
there  is  a chord  in  every  human  heart  which, 
if  but  rightly  touched  by  a skillful  hand,  will 
feel  and  produce  action, — I say,  when  I think 
of  all  this,  1 long  for  a pen  endowed  with  life 
and  power,  which  shall  also  wake  to  life  and 
power  that  dormant  chord  in  the  heart.  I 
long  to  portray,  in  living  light,  the  sorrows 
and  wants  of  those  who  hasten  after  other 
gods, — sorrows  and  wants  which  most  truly 
concern  each  and  every  one  of  us.  But 
I remember  that  they  have  been  portrayed 
by  an  inspired  Apostle,  with  more  startling 
vividness  than  any  living  missionary  can  hope 


280 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


successfully  to  imitate.  And  so  the  most 
that  I can  hope  to  do  will  be,  in  my  feeble 
way,  to  illustrate  a few  points  in  his  descrip- 
tion, from  what  my  own  eyes  have  seen,  or 
from  what  1 have  heard  from  the  mouths  of 
those  who  have  seen. 

“ Among  other  things  Paul  says  that  the 
heathen  is  without  natural  affection.  An 
instance  proving  this  I will  name.  On  one 
of  our  coldest  mornings  in  India,  a wild-looking 
woman,  with  tangled  hair  hanging  over  her 
face,  brought  a young  infant  to  our  house  to 
give  away.  The  poor  little  thing  was  destitute 
of  any  clothing  and  apparently  nearly  fam- 
ished. As  soon  as  the  mother  found  that  I 
would  take  her  child,  she  put  it  out  of  her 
arms  with  the  utmost  indifference,  and  turning 
round  walked  away  ; and  though  she  lived 
within  four  and  one  half  miles  of  the  church,  I 
never  knew  her  to  come  and  see  it,  or 
even  to  inquire  for  it.  She  belongs  to  a 
class  of  females  very  numerous  in  India,  a 
class  bred  and  appropriated  to  licentiousness 
by  their  parents,  and  for  aught  I know  it  is 
considered  by  the  community  in  general  as 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


281 


respectable  a trade  as  any  other.  These 
females  are  always  seen  at  the  corners  of 
streets  and  buildings,  arrayed  in  gaudy  colors, 
with  painted  faces;  and  with  wrists,  ankles,  and 
toes  covered  with  ornaments,  beckoning  to 
the  passers-by.  Of  the  various  monstrous 
and  abominable  systems  of  licentiousness  woven 
into  the  religion  of  the  heathen  and  forming 
an  essential  part  of  it,  it  is  impossible  to 
write.  The  Apostle’s  description  comprehends 
it, — ‘ filled  with  licentiousness.’  One  more 
instance  of  the  want  of  natural  affection.  A 
family  was  returning  from  a pilgrimage  to 
Jagurnath,  and  while  passing  through  our  place 
an  adult  daughter  was  seized  with  cholera. 
She  was  immediately  forsaken  by  the  party, 
among  whom  was  her  own  mother,  and  left, 
stripped  of  everything,  to  die  alone.  Her  last 
dying  groan  was,  ‘Mother,  mother.’  Another 
trait  in  the  description  is  ‘unmercifulness.’ 
One  day,  not  far  from  our  house,  we  saw  a 
young  man  lying  in  great  distress,  and  appar- 
ently near  death,  but  alone  on  the  ground. 
While  we  stood  for  a moment,  a number  of 
idle  gazers  from  the  opposite  side  of  the 


282 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


way  came  to  look  at  us,  but  evinced  no  interest 
in  the  sufferer.  At  eventide  his  flesh  was 
furnishing  a banquet  for  the  vulture  and  the  dog. 

“ Near  the  same  place,  on  another  evening, 
a poor  old  woman,  in  a dying  state,  lay  on  the 
saturated  ground,  with  the  rain  pouring  piti- 
lessly into  her  face  and  eyes,  while  her  fellow- 
pilgrims  were  within  a few  feet  of  her 
(though  under  cover),  cooking  and  eating 
their  evening  meal,  heeding  not  nor  caring 
for  their  dying  companion.  But  I have  not 
time  or  room  to  cite  more  cases,  though 
volumes  might  be  filled  with  similar  ones. 

“ Let  all  who  take  The  Morning  Star  and 
who  read  this  be  assured,  if  they  were  never 
so  before,  that  they  have  in  their  hands 
a description  of  heathenism  as  it  exists  at 
the  present  moment,  and  in  the  same  volume 
the  command  of  our  incarnate  God,  ‘ Freely 
give.’  Why?  ‘Freely  ye  have  received.’ 
With  this  description  and  command,  we  cannot 
get  rid  of  duty  ; we  are  all  walking  on  to  the 
place  of  our  impartial  trial,  a trial  which  will 
doubtless  end  in  the  consternation  and  even 
lasting  mourning  of  many  whose  names  have 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


283 


stood  fair  in  the  church  below.  1 have  not 
written  these  last  few  lines  for  the  instruction 
or  information  of  intelligent,  consistent  Chris- 
tians, but  for  those  ministers — I may  safely 
say  those  Christless  ministers — who  tell  their 
flocks  (oh,  fearful,  unwarrantable  responsibility 
to  assume!)  that  ‘the  heathen  are  as  well  off 
as  we,’  and  . for  many  other  ministers  who 
seem  to  think  that  the  claims  of  God  upon 
them  do  not  extend  beyond  the  limits  of  their 
churches  and  congregations.  Alas,  alas,  for 
such  pastors  ! and  alas  for  their  flocks  ! 

“ I must  acknowledge  . . . that  my  letter 
thus  far  has  been  entirely  a digression  from 
the  subject  on  which  1 at  first  intended  to 
write,  namely,  the  female  missionary  agency 
in  our  churches.  When  we  first  heard  of 
this  truly  self-denying  movement,  our  hearts 
were  greatly  rejoiced,  though  we  were  anxious 
and  supposed  that  many  would  become  discour- 
aged from  various  reasons.” 

* # * - *•  * * * 

On  the  nth  of  September,  1859,  occurred 
the  death  of  Rev.  Elias  Hutchins,  corresponding 
secretary  of  the  Foreign  Mission  Society  for 


284 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


eighteen  years,  a man  of  efficiency  and  one 
profoundly  interested  in  missions.  The  work 
was  upon  his  heart,  and  just  before  his 
departure  he  said,  with  marked  concern,  “ If 
1 could  live  to  see  Brothers  Bacheler  and 
James  Phillips  off  to  India,  then  I could  say, 

‘ Now,  Lord,  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart 
in  peace.’  ” This  truly  good  and  faithful  man 
was  not  permitted  to  live  to  see  this  desire 
fulfilled,  although  it  came  about  in  the  events 
of  faithful  Providence.  It  is  not  strange  that 
the  cry  of  the  Board  was,  “ On  whom  shall 
his  mantle  fall  ? ” 

But  Providence  always  knows  upon  whom 
to  lay  the  hand  of  command.  Upon  whom 
should  it  rest  but  upon  the  head  of  Dr.  O.  R. 
Bacheler? — and  there  it  did  rest.  He  was  at 
once  elected  corresponding  secretary  and  filled 
the  office  most  acceptably  and  helpfully,  until 
the  time  of  his  furlough  was  up,  and  he  made 
ready  to  return  to  the  people  so  dear  to  his 
heart.  This  work  increased  his  opportunity 
to  stimulate  interest  in  the  home  church  and 
to  help  progress  in  the  foreign  field.  The 
following  year  brought  into  the  treasury 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


285 


$1,967.15  more  than  was  received  in  the  pre- 
vious year,  a fact  received  by  all  as  a token 
of  good.  But  now  the  Civil  War  came  on, 
and  the  mission  began  to  fall  into  straits  for 
money,  and  yet  with  courage  the  needs  were 
kept  before  the  people  of  the  denomination, 
with  the  stern  resolve  that  the  mission  must 
be  supported  at  all  hazards. 

In  1862  Dr.  Bacheler  felt  that  he  was 
needed  again  in  India  and  that  he  must  return 
immediately.  Mr.  Covill,  who  went  out  in  ’54, 
had  returned,  Mr.  Phillips  returned  in  ’55,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hallam  went  out  in  ’56,  and  Dula 
Phillips  went  back  with  them.  Miss  Crawford 
had  been  home  on  furlough  and  returned  to 
India  in  ’61,  saying:  “Never  before  did  I 
embark  with  so  joyful  a heart.  Storms  and 
death  even  may  come,  and  in  view  of  them 
I can  look  heavenward  and  say  : — 

“ ‘ Under  the  shadow  of  Thy  wing 
Still  may  we  rest  secure; 

Sufficient  is  thine  arm  alone 
And  our  defence  is  sure.’ 

“ Farewell  now  and  evermore  adieu  to  my 
own  dear  sisters  and  brothers.  ‘ May  we  meet 
in  the  better  land.’  ’’ 


286 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Mr.  Cooley  had  returned  and  was  working  in 
the  West  as  a mission  agent.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miller  had  also  gone  to  the  field,  but  the  demand 
was  still  great,  and  Dr.  Bacheler  heard  the 
Macedonian  cry  directed  to  him.  It  was  not 
like  him  to  turn  away  from  that  voice,  or  the 
plain  path  of  duty.  His  only  reply  to  the  call 
was,  “Here  am  1,  Lord;  send  me.”  He  had 
gone  over  the  country  of  his  homeland,  north, 
east,  and  west,  with  the  cry  to  awake  and  come 
to  the  rescue.  Mrs.  Bacheler  had  so  far  regained 
her  health  that  she  could  care  for  the  little 
brood  until  the  funds  of  the  Society  would  allow 
her  to  follow  him.  While  living  at  New  Hamp- 
ton there  were  born  to  them  four  children : 
George  Winslow,  Grace  Darling,  Mary  Wash- 
ington, and  Arthur  Miller.  “ Baby  Arthur,” 
as  his  mother  always  fondly  called  him,  was  laid 
away  on  the  hill  beside  Annie  Barham.  Mary 
Washington  was  destined  to  become  a missionary 
in  the  land  of  her  parents’  choice. 

Ready  for  India,  Dr.  Bacheler  resigned  as 
Secretary  of  the  Mission  Board,  and  Rev.  C.  O. 
Libby  was  elected  to  the  office,  a place  which 
he  faithfully  filled  until  failing  health  compelled 
him  to  resign. 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


287 


Obliged  to  return  to  India  alone  on  account 
of  the  condition  of  the  treasury.  Dr.  Bacheler 
sailed  from  Boston  on  the  Susan  Hinks,  July  12, 
1862,  just  ten  days  before  Rev.  B.  B.  Smith 
returned  to  New  York,  and  ten  years  and  two 
days  from  the  time  of  his  arrival  home  from 
India.  His  last  ten  years’  work  had  been  very 
profitable  to  the  Mission.  It  was  hard  for  the 
Board  to  part  with  him,  and  yet  both  the  Board 
and  himself  were  glad  that  he  was  permitted  to 
return  to  India.  The  following  letter,  written 
on  the  day  of  his  sailing,  sets  forth  the  conditions 
and  his  feelings  better  than  any  other  words 
can  do.  It  has  at  the  top,  “ Good  Bye.” 

SHIP  Susan  Hinks,  off  Boston  Harbor, 
July  12,  1862. 

The  shores  of  my  native  land  are  fast  receding  from 
view.  Thousands  of  miles  of  ocean  are  before  me,  and 
as  the  last  opportunity  for  communicating  with  the  shore 
will  soon  offer,  1 wish  to  pen  a few  farewell  words  to  the 
many  friends  1 leave  behind. 

Ten  years  have  passed  since  I landed,  almost  a stranger, 
in  the  land  of  my  birth,  since  which  time  1 have  been 
forming  new  acquaintances  almost  daily  in  the  different 
sections  of  our  denomination.  To  many  of  these  I have 
become  strongly  attached  from  their  interest  in  the  cause 
of  Missions,  and  in  these  parting  words  I wish  to  bespeak 
their  constant  interest  for  the  future. 


288 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BAtHELER 


It  may  be  asked,  “Why  this  sudden  departure?”  The 
cause  demands  it.  I am  going  alone  because  the  state 
of  our  treasury  is  such  that  my  family,  even  a small 
portion  of  it,  cannot  accompany  me.  We  have  been  under 
appointment  to  return  for  nearly  three  years,  and  waiting 
for  the  means  to  be  supplied,  but  they  have  not  been 
available,  and  now  the  alternative  comes  to  go  alone  or 
not  at  all.  And  I accept  the  opportunity  with  the  under- 
standing that,  should  the  means  be  supplied,  my  family 
may  follow  hereafter,  else  I must  return  to  them,  after 
our  worn-out  missionaries,  now  away  from  their  field, 
shall  have  been  restored  to  their  labors. 

The  propriety  of  this  arrangement  may  be  questioned  by 
some,  but  my  authority  may  be  found  in  Matt,  io  : 37-39, 
the  reading  of  which  I would  suggest,  as  the  remarks  1 
sometimes  hear  would  indicate  that  it  is  omitted  in  some 
editions  of  our  Bible. 

And  now,  as  the  last  sentence  may  be  written,  let  me 
say  that,  though  sad  thoughts  come  over  me  when  I think 
of  the  dear  ones  I have  left,  yet  1 go  forth  to  the  work 
with  a joyful  heart,  counting  it  an  exalted  privilege  to 
labor  again  in  the  dark  lands  of  heathenism.  I go  to  one 
of  the  most  important  fields  in  the  world,  and  I constantly 
crave  an  interest  at  the  throne  of  grace,  that  I may  not 
go  in  vain. 

O.  R.  BACHELER. 

So  devoted  was  he  to  his  vocation,  so  imbued 
with  the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  that  not  even  the 
conditions  which  separated  him  for  a while  from 
his  family  could  turn  him  aside.  The  message 
of  Paul  in  Rom.  8 : 35-39  was  true  in  his  experi- 
ence. He  tested  promises  by  many  untried, 


HOME-MAKING  IN  NEW  HAMPTON 


289 


and  found  them  not  wanting.  Though  severe 
was  the  proving  and  great  the  loss,  greater,  far 
greater,  was  the  gain,  as  is  always  true  in  every 
such  experience.  While  he  was  courageous  and 
consecrated  in  his  going,  his  family  were  no  less 
courageous  and  consecrated  in  consenting  to  the 
separation.  Together  or  separated,  they  were 
one  in  the  great  God  who  is  over  all,  and  every- 
where present  to  guide  and  keep  his  children. 


CHAPTER  XI 

WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE  — THE  PRESS  — 
THE  SANTALS 

Dr.  BaCHELER’S  first  work  in  India  had  been 
accomplished  with  Balasore  as  a center,  but 
now  this  station  was  in  good  hands  and 
prospering,  consequently  his  attention  was 
directed  to  Midnapore,  a city  on  the  Kusi 
Riverrof  seventy  thousand  inhabitants,  situated 
about  seventy  miles  from  Calcutta,  and  in  a 
district  whose  population  was  estimated  to  be 
between  1,000,000  and  1,500,000  people. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Dow,  a faithful  missionary  of  the 
Free  Baptist  Mission,  had  occupied  this  station 
from  1844  to  1847,  but  ill  health  had  compelled 
him  to  return  home  before  any  perceptible  results 
of  his  efforts  appeared.  Both  Mr.  Hallam  and 
Mr.  Miller  had  seriously  considered  the  occupancy 
of  the  station  by  themselves,  but  were  unable 
to  do  so  since  their  help  was  so  much  needed  at 
other  stations. 

Dr.  Bacheler  went  to  Midnapore,  and,  making 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


291 


this  the  centre  of  his  personal  endeavor  during 
the  remainder  of  his  life  in  India,  he  built  up  a 
system  of  operations  that  were  destined  to 
become  potent  in  all  that  region  and  throughout 
the  mission. 

Upon  reaching  Calcutta,  he  proceeded  to  Mid- 
napore  on  horseback.  Mr.  Hallam  sent  Rama, 
Mr.  Phillips’s  old  groom,  to  meet  him,  and  care 
for  his  horse,  and  when  he  neared  Midnapore, 
a company  of  missionaries  and  native  preachers 
went  out  to  welcome  him. 

They  at  once  entered  upon  cold-season  work 
together.  The  Orissa  quarterly  meeting,  delayed 
for  his  coming,  was  soon  held  at  Jellasore,  and 
was  profitable.  One  of  the  important  measures 
adopted  was  the  resumption  of  the  system  which 
pledged  one  tenth  of  the  personal  income  to  reli- 
gious work.  This  system  had  fallen  into  disuse, 
but,  largely  at  the  instigation  of  Dr.  Bacheler, 
it  was  adopted,  and  unanimously. 

This  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  at  Balasore  a 
few  days  later,  when  the  same  system  was 
adopted  by  that  church.  This  departure  in  the 
mission  — never  since  abandoned  — has  blessed 
both  it  and  the  home  church. 


292 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Dr.  Bacheler  took  one  native  preacher  — 
Mohase  — to  help  him,  and  determined  to  ask 
the  Home  Society  only  for  the  support  of  the 
two.  To  undertake  a work  of  such  magnitude, 
with  only  one  supported  helper,  showed  great 
courage.  He  found  a house  — once  beautiful  and 
almost  palatial,  but  then  in  ruin — one-half  of  which 
he  hired  for  $7.50  per  month.  Here,  for  a time, 
he  found  a home  for  himself,  Mohase,  his  fam- 
ily when  it  came,  and  the  printing-press.  Two 
prominent  characteristics  of  our  missionary  were 
industry  and  enterprise.  He  must  always  be 
busy,  and  he  must  always  find  those  means  and 
ways  which  would  conspire  for  the  best  interests 
of  the  thing  upon  his  heart. 

During  his  first  term  in  India,  he  had  discovered 
that  a printing-press  would  aid  greatly  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  work  of  the  mission,  and 
possibly  increase  the  revenue.  In  harmony  with 
these  ideas,  he  asked  permission  to  carry  back 
with  him  a press.  The  Mission  Board  consented, 
with  the  understanding  that  he  would  not  ask 
for  funds  to  pay  for  running  it.  Two  or  three 
years  before  this,  Miss  Crawford  had  raised  a 
small  sum  from  the  Sabbath  schools  for  this 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


293 


purpose.  Dr.  Bacheler  solicited  from  personal 
friends,  and  added  to  this  from  his  own  pocket 
sufficient  to  buy  a small  “ Low  hand-press”  and 
a supply  of  English  type.  He  did  not  wait  until 
he  reached  India  to  get  this  machine  into  opera- 
tion, but  with  the  aid  of  a printer’s  handbook 
began  to  learn  to  print  immediately  after  sailing. 
Captain  Atwood,  of  the  Susan  Hinks,  entered 
warmly  into  his  plans,  and  permitted  him  to  use 
the  cuddy-table,  when  not  needed  for  meals. 

He  wished  to  make  all  the  practical  use  of  the 
press  possible  ; consequently,  he  conceived  the 
idea  of  printing  a paper  on  board  ship.  Each 
number  of  the  paper  published  consisted  of 
four  pages,  octavo, — the  largest  size  which  the 
small  press  would  allow.  It  was  called  “ Ocean 
Herald,”  and  during  the  voyage  of  four  months, 
five  numbers  were  published.  The  first  was 
issued  on  the  equator,  and  was  called  the  “ Equa- 
torial Herald”  ; the  second,  issued  in  the  South 
Atlantic,  was  called  “ South  Atlantic  Herald  ” ; 
the  third  appeared  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
and  was  called  “ Good  Hope  Herald”  ; the  fourth 
came  out  on  the  Indian  Ocean,  and  was  called 
“ Indian  Ocean  Herald”  ; the  fifth  was  published 


294 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


going  up  the  Ganges  River,  and  was  named 
“ Ganges  Herald.” 

All  on  board  were  greatly  interested  in  the 
little  paper,  continually  watching  its  progress 
and  giving  what  assistance  they  could,  the 
captain  and  officers  contributing  to  its  columns. 
There  were  many  difficulties  to  be  surmounted 
in  connection  with  it.  A pitching,  tumbling 
ship  is  not  a very  steady  printing  office. 
Types  were  set  when  the  cases  seemed  deter- 
mined to  leap  from  the  well-ribbed  table  and 
throw  the  whole  establishment  into  “pi.”  The 
editor,  publisher,  and  compositor — all  in  one — 
says : “ Types  were  set  on  our  knees,  and  the 
press  worked  sometimes  on  all  fours,  some- 
times on  no  fours  at  all,  but  lying  flat  on  the 
floor,  holding  on,  or  trying  to,  by  our  editorial 
toes,  yet  every  now  and  then  lurching  to  lee- 
ward, leaving  long,  deep  streaks  on  the  cabin 
floors,  showing  the  severity  of  the  struggle. 
But  it  was  a triumph.”  A copy  of  the  “Ocean 
Herald”  is  indeed  quite  a curiosity;  it  set 
forth  — as  all  enterprising  papers  do  — current 
events  ; it  dwelt  upon  things  of  peculiar  inter- 
est to  the  seamen ; it  often  spoke  of  home ; 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


295 


did  not  leave  out  the  ethical,  moral,  and 
religious  truth  designed  to  do  special  good,  and 
must  have  had  a good  influence  upon  all  on 
board.  It  began  with  an  announcement  “ To 
our  Patrons,”  and  closed  with  “Valedictory”' 
and  “Weekly  Journal.”  In  it  we  find  good' 
“Sunday  Reading”  and  some  amusing  things;, 
among  which  are  “ A Song  for  Raising 
Topsails,”  “Song  on  Sailing,”  “Song  for 
the  Halliards,”  and  “Capstan  Song.”  We 
copy  as  a specimen  the  “Capstan  Song,”  with 
the  editor’s  explanation  that  “as  the  motion 
is  continuous,  round  and  round  the  capstan,  the 
object  being  to  keep  step,  one  or  more  may 
sing  the  melody  and  all  join  in  the  chorus  : — 

CAPSTAN  SONG. 

General  Taylor  gained  the  day, 

Hurrah  Santa  Anna! 

General  Taylor  gained  the  day 
All  on  the  plains  of  Mexico. 

He  gained  the  day  at  Monterey, 

Hurrah  Santa  Anna! 

He  gained  the  day  at  Monterey, 

All  on  the  plains  of  Mexico. 


296 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Santa  Anna  ran  away, 

Hurrah  Santa  Anna! 

He  ran  away  from  Monterey, 

All  on  the  plains  of  Mexico. 

General  Jackson’s  at  New  Orleans, 

Hurrah  Santa  Anna! 

General  Jackson’s  at  New  Orleans, 

All  on  the  plains  of  Mexico. 

’Twas  there  he  gave  the  British  beans, 

Hurrah  Santa  Anna  l 

’Twas  there  he  gave  the  British  beans, 

All  on  the  plains  of  Mexico. 

“It  will  be  seen,”  says  the  editor,  “that 
Jack’s  historical  status  is  not  above  criticism.” 
On  arriving  at  Midnapore  and  setting  up  the 
press,  two  native  Christian  boys  were  taught 
in  printing.  They  were  much  interested  and 
made  rapid  progress.  Bengali  type  was  soon 
added.  At  that  time  the  canal  from  Midnapore 
to  Calcutta  was  being  constructed,  and  a large 
number  of  blank  forms  were  required  in  this 
business,  and  thus  a profitable  employment 
was  furnished  the  press  for  one  or  two  years. 
The  boys  did  the  press-work,  while  Dr.  Bache- 
ler,  who  was  at  first  confined  to  the  English, 
was  soon  able  to  use  Bengali  type.  An  appeal 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


297 


was  made  in  India  for  contributions  to  the 
press,  which  resulted  in  a speedy  donation  of 
Rs.  1,020  ($459).  Major-General  Parsons, 
away  in  the  Northwest  Provinces,  sent  Rs.  50. 
Captain  Atwood  of  the  Susan  Hinks  sent  a 


PRESS  BUILDING,  MIDNAPORE 


parting  donation  of  Rs.  10  as  he  was  leaving 
on  his  homeward  voyage.  In  less  than  a 
year,  the  press  was  the  means  of  bringing 
nearly  five  hundred  dollars  into  the  mission 
treasury,  greatly  encouraging  all,  and  especially 


298 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


those  who  had  assisted  in  procuring  it.  Ten 
years  later  a larger  press  was  sent  out  by 
the  friends  in  America,  enabling  the  mission 
to  print  larger  sheets  and  do  the  work  more 
rapidly. 

Constantly  the  work  increased ; tracts  and 
school  books,  used  in  the  primary  schools  of 
the  mission,  were  made,  and  profitable  outside 
jobs  came  in,  and  another  press  was  sent  out 
from  America.  In  the  different  departments  of 
this  little  establishment,  including  stitching  and 
binding,  from  ten  to  twenty  individuals  were 
employed.  Not  only  did  the  establishment 
support  itself,  but  averaged  making  about  five 
hundred  rupees  a year,  which  was  expended 
in  mission  work  where  most  needed.  The 
Santal  schools  were  large  recipients  of  this 
money,  and  it  was  thus  well  invested.  The 
Midnapore  chapel  — a commodious  and  well 
devised  buildingj—  and,  a few  years  later,  a 
substantial  brick  building  for  the  printing  estab- 
lishment, were  builtjfom  funds  accumulated  in 
this  way.  Thus  the  press,  at  first  located  in  the 
private  home  of  Dr.  Bacheler,  then  in  a room 
at  the  end  of  the  chapel,  at  length  found  a 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


299 


permanent  abiding-place.  Some  of  the  special 
advantages  derived  from  this  enterprise  were : 
first,  that  the  mission  could  do  its  own  printing 
cheaper  than  it  could  hire  it  done  elsewhere ; 
second,  it  provided  the  means  of  livelihood  to 
many  of  the  native  Christians,  which  is  always 
an  important  feature  in  mission  work ; third, 
and  not  least  in  consideration,  it  gave  charac- 
ter to  the  mission,  imparting  to  it  prestige 
among  both  the  natives  and  Europeans. 

At  that  time  Home  Bible  Societies  forbade 
appropriations  for  the  publication  of  Baptist 
translations  of  the  Bible  in  foreign  languages, 
but  by  means  of  this  press  our  Society  could 
publish  for  distribution  its  own  translations, 
and  to  quite  an  extent  did  so.  The  India 
Report  in  ’82  recorded  expressions  of  gratitude 
that  a permanent  and  substantial  building  had 
been  erected  for  the  press.  The  old  one,  frail, 
with  thatched  roof  and  only  designed  for  tem- 
porary purposes,  had  nevertheless  done  good 
service  for  seventeen  years.  The  Report  says  : 
“ Our  new  quarters  are  sufficiently  commodious, 
with  two  rooms  eighteen  by  thirty-six  feet  each, 
with  brick  walls  and  roof,  safe  from  fire  and 


300 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


tempest.  On  the  first  of  May  \te  dedicated 
the  building  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  in 
which  a feast  of  good  things  for  our  native 
people  formed  an  important  part.”  The  press, 
at  that  time,  was  reported  to  be  self-sustaining, 
with  a fair  balance  in  the  treasury  to  aid  in 
other  departments  of  work.  During  the  year 
four  hundred  copies  of  h'nglish  and  ten  thou- 
sand copies  of  Bengali  literature  were  pub- 
lished.* 

With  its  increased  facilities,  greater  good  was 
accomplished.  Translations  of  the  Scriptures 
into  the  Bengali,  Oriya,  and  Santali  languages 
were  printed  from  year  to  year.  For  several 
years  the  Mission  Reports  were  printed  here, 
a thousand  copies  being  sent  out  annually  for 
distribution.  For  some  time,  a thousand  copies’ 
of  the  Sunday-school  lessons  were  printed  in 
Bengali ; a Bengali  Christian  song-book  was 
also  published,  with  good  literature  from  the 
pen  of  Mrs.  Griffin  and  Mrs.  Burkholder.  The 
Report  of  ’83  stated  that  in  addition  to  outlays 
on  the  building,  paid  for  from  press  earnings, 

*As  many  as  twelve  thousand  copies  of  sacred  literature  have  been 
published  at  the  Mission  Press  in  a single  year. 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


301 


there  were  contributed  from  its  treasury  Rs.  200 
for  repairs  on  the  Balasore  chapel,  and  Rs.  200 
for  Santali  schools. 

Mr.  R.  M.  Lawrence  went  to  India  for  the 
purpose  of  managing  the  press  work.  He  was 
in  the  country  six  years  and  nine  months. 
During  his  administration,  its  business  was 
especially  prosperous.  Messrs.  Griffin,  George, 
Miner,  Wyman,  and  others  have  at  different 
times  superintended  this  work  with  success. 

This  department  of  work  was  discontinued 
in  July,  1901,  because  larger  returns  for 
money  invested  in  books  and  tracts  could  be 
obtained  by  havmg  them  printed  on  the  steam 
presses  in  Calcutta  and  Cuttack  and  because 
money  was  not  provided  to  keep  the  press 
busy  on  mission  work,  and  job  work  had  to 
be  taken  at  a losing  rate.  The  building  was 
sold  to  the  Woman’s  Society  to  be  used  for  a 
home  for  woman  missionaries.  One  press  was 
given  to  the  Balasore  boys’  orphanage,  one  to 
the  Bhimpore  orphanage,  and  the  two  remaining 
presses  were  sold  to  Randall  Jena,  who  had 
been  foreman  many  years ; with  these  he  does 
a small  business  of  his  own. 


302 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


When  Dr.  Bacheler  went  to  Midnapore  he 
established  a dispensary  at  that  place,  and  the 
dispensary  at  Balasore  was  discontinued.  His 
medical  practice  took  more  or  less  time  every 
day.  The  responsibility  of  making  the  press 
a success  largely  devolved  upon  him.  He  also 
charged  himself  with  the  duty  of  building  up 
a strong  church  and  Sunday  school.  Bazaar 
preaching  could  not  be  overlooked  under  his 
superintendency  ; then  there  were  schools  to  be 
cared  for,  general  oversight  of  the  native 
Christians,  and  cold-season  work,  which  was 
always  very  dear  to  him.  But  a work  which 
had  long  engrossed  his  thought,  to  which  he 
had  given  considerable  attention,  and  which 
was  destined  to  be  a specialty  with  him,  was 
that  among  the  Santals.  He  had  come  in  con- 
tact with  them  in  some  of  his  cold-season 
tours  from  Balasore.  Rev.  J.  Phillips  had 
become  deeply  interested  in  this  people  before 
him  and  had  done  very  much  toward  enlight- 
ening them,  and  giving  them  the  gospel  ; an 
interest  which  was  deeply  shared  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Noyes. 

In  his  “Christianity  in  Orissa”  Dr.  Bache- 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


303 


ler  gives  quite  a lengthy  account  of  this  people. 
He  says : — 

“For  several  years  the  friends  of  our  mis- 
sion have  taken  a deep  interest  in  the  condition 
of  the  Santals,  a branch  of  the  hill  tribes, 
including  the  jungles  of  our  western  border. 
Little  was  known  of  them  until  within  a few 
years.” 

Mr.  Noyes  thus  described  a visit  to  one 
of  their  villages  in  1838:  — 

“Dec.  20.  Came  to  a small  village  in 
the  heart  of  a dense  jungle.  As  soon  as  1 
came  in  sight  of  the  houses,  1 felt  persuaded 
that  1 was  coming  among  old  acquaintances,  they 
so  much  resembled  the  stick  huts  of  the  Coles 
of  Sumbhulpore.  When  1 saw  the  jet-black 
people,  with  a necklace  of  white  beads  about 
their  necks,  and  their  peculiar  dress,  if  dress  it 
might  be  called,  1 was  more  confirmed  in  my 
opinion.  1 immediately  alighted  from  my  horse 
and  inquired  if  that  was  a village  of  the 
Coles ; but  was  not  a little  surprised  at  being 
so  soon  transported  from  the  Oriyas  to  a peo- 
ple who  could  not  understand  a word  1 said.  I 
looked  about  with  astonishment  at  the  roman- 


304 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


tic  change,  till  at  length  I found  an  old  man 
who  could  speak  broken  Oriya,  of  whom  1 
gained  the  following  information.  He  said  they 
were  not  Coles,  but  Santals.  They  have  no 
castes  among  them ; no  temples,  priests,  or 
images.  Their  principal  object  of  worship  is 
the  sun,  which  they  believe  to  be  God  himself, 
and  which  they  worship  by  sacrificing  goats 
and  chickens,  at  the  same  time  repeating  the 
prayer  that  the  Coles,  who  sacrifice  the  same 
animals,  repeat.  The  master  of  a family  officiates 
as  its  priest,  and  performs  the  worship  either 
in  a dwelling-house  or  under  a tree.  They 
also  adore  the  departed  spirits  of  their  fathers. 
They  consider  themselves  the  aborigines  of  the 
country,  and  esteem  the  Hindus  as  their  con- 
querors. They  do  not  marry  till  the  age  of 
sixteen  or  seventeen,  which  they  do  as  follows : 
The  man  first  marries  himself  to  the  woman 
by  putting  some  paint  on  her  forehead,  after 
which  the  woman  confesses  herself  his  wife 
by  anointing  his  head  with  oil.  Thus  the 
bride  and  bridegroom  are  the  only  ones  con- 
cerned in  the  business.  Unlike  the  Hindus, 
they  do  not  burn,  but  bury  their  dead.  They 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


305 


live  by  husbandry,  and  by  distilling  spirits 
from  rice,  of  which  they  are  very  fond,  as 
appeared  in  the  head  man  of  the  village, 
who  lay  in  a state  of  intoxication  all  the  time  I 
remained  there.  Except  for  their  language,  they 
resemble  the  Coles  in  every  particular.  I 
have  learned  that  there  are  more  than  two 
hundred  of  these  villages  scattered  throughout 
the  Mohurbunge  country,  and  though  from  time 
immemorial  they  have  lived  among  the  Oriyas, 
yet  they  maintain  their  peculiar  manners,  reli- 
gion, and  language. 

“ Their  color  is  much  blacker  than  that  of  the 
Oriyas,  their  features  very  different,  and  their 
manners  are  not  so  deceitful.  Their  language 
is  much  more  soft  and  musical,  a dozen  or 
twenty  words  of  which  1 took  down  as  a spe- 
cimen. After  1 had  written  these  words,  they 
had  some  conversation  among  themselves,  in 
which  they  manifested  much  suspicion  of  my 
motives.  It  appeared  quite  evident  that  that 
was  the  case,  as  they  refused  to  tell  many 
more  words.  ^ 1 inquired  of  them  if  any  of 
them  could  read ; to  which  they  replied  that 
they  were  wilderness  men,  and  had  no  occasion 


306 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


to  learn  letters.  Desiring  in  some  way  to 
bring  them  under  the  influence  of  the  gospel, 
1 said,  ‘ If  one  of  you  will  go  with  me  to 
Balasore  and  learn  to  read,  1 will  give  him 
wages  to  return  and  teach  the  rest  of  you.’ 
They  replied  that  1 talked  well,  and  what  1 said 
mig.it  be  true,  yet  they  had  no  desire  to  learn 
to  read,  and,  though  they  should  like  the 
money,  no  one  in  the  village  would  consent  to 
go  with  me,  as  1 was  the  first  white  man  they 
had  ever  seen,  or  even  heard  of;  and  hence 
1 could  not  blame  them  for  fearing.  We  found 
it  quite  impossible  to  make  them  understand 
anything  about  the  gospel.” 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  journal 
of  Dr.  Bacheler,  published  in  1841,  describing 
some  of  the  peculiarities  of  this  people : — 

“ Rode  on  two  miles  through  the  jungle  to  Kinda 
Kunta,  a large  village  of  forty  houses.  Their 
houses  are  built  of  round  posts  driven  into  the 
ground,  so  near  as  to  be  nearly  tight,  sometimes 
plastered  with  mud,  but  generally  not;  this  is 
roofed  with  the  common  thatch  or,.straw.  Their 
wealth  consists  in  buffaloes,  cattle,  sheep,  goats, 
hogs,  and  fowl.  They  must  subsist  principally 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


307 


by  their  flocks  and  herds,  as  we  saw  nothing 
of  cultivated  lands.  The  country  here  is  elevated 
and  dry,  being  of  the  primary  formation,  con- 
sisting of  continued  ledges  of  reddish  rock,  the 
surface  of  which  seems  crumbling  to  dust.  The 
people  appear  to  be  very  fond  of  music.  In  the 
evening  their  musicians  assembled  with  drum 
and  fife,  while  the  children  were  engaged  in 
singing  and  dancing.  As  we  arrived  in  the  heat 
of  the  day,  we  took  shelter  from  the  sun  under 
a neighboring  banyan. 

“At  night  we  asked  for  a house,  but  could 
obtain  none;  so,  spreading  our  umbrellas  over 
our  heads  to  keep  off  the  dew,  we  lay  down  to 
sound  and  quiet  slumber  beneath  our  tree. 

“ ioth.  Spent  the  morning  in  making  up  a 
vocabulary  of  Santali  words.  Obtained  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty. 

“ P.  M.  Hearing  there  would  be  a large  dance 
some  three  or  four  miles  off,  and  as  most  of  our 
villagers  had  gone,  we  determined  to  go  also. 
On  our  way  we  overtook  a company  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  dressed  in  their  nicest 
clothes,  singing  and  skipping  about  in  the  most 
delightful  manner.” 


308 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


After  describing  the  scenes  at  the  dance,  he 
goes  on  to  say  : — 

“ The  highest  bliss  to  which  an  Oriya  aspires 
is  to  stuff  himself  until  he  can  eat  no  more,  and 
then  lie  down  to  sleep  in  the  sun.  This  consti- 
tutes his  happiness  here,  and,  in  his  opinion, 
will  constitute  his  heaven  hereafter.  But  here 
appear  to  be  £ very  different  people.  Wherever 
we  have  been  we  have  found  the  women 
mingling  with  the  men,  in  their  labors  and  their 
recreations  ; and  they  do  not  appear  to  be  con- 
sidered inferior.  The  consequence  is,  they  look 
like  human  beings ; they  respect  themselves. 
They  are  divested  of  all  that  disgusting  squeam- 
ishness which  we  see  in  all  Hindu  women.” 

Rev.  J.  Phillips  devoted  a great  deal  of  time 
to  these  people.  For  several  years  he  went 
among  them  occasionally,  preaching  and  reducing 
their  language  to  writing,  and  preparing  ele- 
mentary books  for  them.  Dr.  Bacheler  says:  — 

“ Little  religious  interest  was  manifest  among 
the  Santals  until  1847.  Mr.  Phillips  established 
a school  at  Jellasore,  into  which  several  of  their 
youths  had  been  drawn.  There  they  learned 
to  read  their  own  language,  reduced  to  system, 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


309 


and  written  for  the  first  time  in  a book.  The 
minds  of  some  of  these  were  gradually  enlight- 
ened, religious  instruction  was  sanctified,  and 
they  began  to  manifest  a deep  interest  in  spiritual 
things.” 

Mr.  Phillips  thus  describes  the  commencement 
of  this  religious  interest  among  them  : — 

“ This  evening  we  have  had  what  may  be 
termed  our  first  Santali  prayer-meeting.  I gave  a 
lecture  from  Matt.  16  : 24,  and  succeeded  with 
the  language  better  than  I had  hoped.  After 
this  we  had  a familiar  conversation,  in  which 
Budharai  and  Bhagaban  and  some  of  the  school 
freely  engaged,  frankly  confessing  their  former 
darkness,  and  the  great  light  they  had  now 
received,  and  the  glorious  prospects  thus  pre- 
sented to  them.  Budharai  freely  confessed  his 
present  position.  He  felt  fully  convinced  of 
the  truth  of  Christianity,  and  of  his  own  need  ; 
but  in  case  he  should  entirely  forsake  the  gods 
of  his  fathers,  he  had  his  fears  lest  they  might 
do  him  some  injury,  perhaps  eat  him  up  ! 

” I at  length  asked  Elias  to  pray,  and  he 
did  so,  very  much  to  my  surprise  and  delight. 
He  was  perfectly  composed  and  ready  in  his 


310 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


language.  His  prayer  was  simple,  unaffected, 
and  fervent,  coming  from  the  heart.  Forms 
of  prayer,  he  could  have  learned  none,  for  the 
simple  reason  that  none  existed  in  their  language. 
But  what  need  of  forms  of  words,  when  a man 
is  taught  by  the  Spirit  to  pour  his  wants  into 
the  ear  of  sovereign  mercy?  He  prays  with 
the  spirit  and  with  the  understanding  also.  Set 
forms  would  but  trammel  the  free-born  soul. 

“ To  me  this  meeting  has  been  the  happiest  I 
have  experienced  for  years,  — truly,  a feast  of 
fat  things.  It  more  than  repays  me  for  the  labor 
and  toil  of  their  instruction,  and  the  acquisition 
of  their  strange  language.  Yea,  it  is  an  abundant 
recompense  for  all  the  labor  and  suffering  of 
twelve  years’  exile.  God  be  praised  that  1 have 
lived  to  see  this  day  ! 

“Aug.  4th.  At  our  prayer  meeting  last  evening 
Bhagaban,  Elias  Hutchins,  David  Marks,  Daniel 
Cilley,  and  Abial  Moulton,  all  engaged  in  prayer, 
and  spoke,  expressing  their  full  determination 
to  forsake  all  for  God,  and  their  readiness  to 
put  on  Christ  by  baptism.  Three  of  these  1 
should  have  no  hesitancy  in  baptizing  even  now. 
Of  the  other  two  I have  strong  hopes,  and 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


311 


probably  we  shall  soon  have  the  happiness  of 
admitting  the  five  all  together  to  the  bosom  of  the 
church.  Surely,  salvation  has  come  to  the  San- 
tals — the  long-despised,  long-neglected  Santals, 
— for  whose  souls  no  man  cared.  God  be  praised 
for  this  great  salvation  ! 

“ 16th.  Daniel  and  Elias  have  at  length,  and 
I trust  forever,  become  emancipated  from  the 
shackles  of  caste  ! They  had  repeatedly  com- 
municated their  intention  to  do  so,  and  as  1 felt 
pretty  well  satisfied  with  their  experience,  1 
thought  it  best  to  lose  no  time  in  bringing  the 
matter  to  a close.  I therefore  called  them  in 
this  afternoon,  with  Rama  and  Mahes,  and, 
after  conversing  with  them  some  time,  proposed 
that  they  should  take  some  bread,  and  eat 
before  us.  Surprising  as  this  may  seem,  this 
startled  them,  and  they  drew  back.  At  length 
Daniel  said  he  would  eat ; Elias  said  he  would 
wait  until  he  should  be  baptized.  The  bread 
was  brought,  but  Daniel’s  heart  almost  failed 
him.  He,  however,  after  some  hesitation,  raised 
his  hand  and  took  a piece  ; Elias  declined.  Poor 
Daniel  sat  with  the  bread  in  his  hand,  swelled 
up,  and  seemed  in  an  awful  trial,  and  for  half 


312 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


an  hour,  or  more,  it  seemed  doubtful  whether 
they  would  taste  the  morsel  which  was  to  be 
the  signal  of  a final  separation  from  all  their 
former  connections.*  It  was  an  important  step 
to  take.  The  Rubicon  once  passed,  there  could 
be  no  retreat.  They,  however,  at  length  put 
the  fearful  morsel  to  their  mouths,  and  the  work 
was  done,  when  they  immediately  became  tran- 
quil and  happy.  They  appeared  quite  happy 
at  our  prayer  meeting  this  evening,  and  the 
family  they  have  now  left,  so  far  from  taking 
fright,  have  been  singing  and  praying,  with 
Rama  as  cheerful  as  ever.  David  seemed  almost 
persuaded  to  cast  in  his  lot  with  them,  but  his 
courage  failed.  1 hope  both  he  and  Bhagaban, 
his  father,  will  do  so  soon.  The  Lord  be  praised 
for  redeeming  grace  ! 

“ 30th.  Yesterday,  Sabbath,  was  a day  of 
rejoicing  with  us.  Five  happy  converts  testi- 
fied to  a good  profession  before  many  witnesses. 
Notice  had  been  circulated  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  about  fifty  of  our  heathen  neighbors  came 
and  attended  our  afternoon  preaching,  and  re- 

* Eating  Christian  food  with  Christians  is  usually  considered  a sign 
of  breaking  caste. 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


313 


paired  with  us  to  the  water-side,  and  beheld  in 
solemn  silence  five  of  their  countrymen  buried 
with  Christ  in  baptism.  They  looked  on  with 
interest,  and,  in  a few  instances,  expressed  their 
approbation ; and  we  can  but  pray  and  hope 
that  the  public  administration  of  this  divinely 
appointed  ordinance  may  be  blessed  to  the  good 
of  those  whose  curiosity  led  them  to  witness  it. 

“ In  the  evening  we  met  for  the  first  time  in  our 
new  chapel,  to  commemorate  the  dying  love  of 
our  glorified  Lord.  The  season  was  one  of 
refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and 
not  soon  to  be  forgotten. 

“Among  the  newly-baptized  were  two  Santals, 
two  Oriyas,  and  a Bengali  widow,  the  mother 
of  Mahes,  native  preacher. 

“ Daniel  Cilley  is  a Santali  youth,  about 
sixteen  years  of  age.  He  entered  the  school 
in  January  last,  and  is  a bright,  active,  and 
amiable  lad,  and  learns  well.  He  is  a very  frank, 
open-hearted  boy,  and  often  reminds  us  of  our 
Lord’s  commendation  of  Nathanael,  ‘ Behold,  an 
Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  is  no  guile.’ 

“Elias  Hutchins  is  also  a Santali,  and  is  about 
eighteen  years  of  age.  He  entered  the  school 


314 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


in  1846.  For  many  months  his  disposition  and 
manners  were  rough  and  disagreeable,  but  the 
past  three  months  have  marked  a most  pleasing 
change  in  his  life  and  conduct.  The  rude  bar- 
barian is  changed  to  the  meek  and  lowly  disciple 
of  Jesus.  He  has  a noble  form,  being  of  medium 
size,  has  a good  voice,  a pleasant,  ready  delivery, 
and  is  a plodding  genius  in  scholarship.  We 
hope  he  is  destined  to  become  a vessel  of  great 
mercy  to  his  long-neglected,  long-despised,  out- 
cast countrymen.  Elias  is  probably  our  first 
Santali  convert,  and  he  was  instrumental  in 
bringing  Daniel  forward,  as  he  was  also  in  intro- 
ducing him  into  the  school  at  first,  being  from 
the  same  village  as  himself.  Still,  1 have  put  the 
latter  first,  because,  with  rather  more  firmness 
than  his  companion,  he  was  the  first  to  renounce 
caste  openly,  and  thus  sever  himself  from  all  his 
idolatrous  connections.  They  appear  very  happy 
together,  and  now  occupy  a separate  apartment, 
and  cook  for  themselves,  so  as  not  to  defile  those 
who  have  not  yet  renounced  caste.”  * 

It  was  also  a day  of  great  rejoicing  to  Mr. 

*The  Santal  boys  who  came  to  the  Midnapore  school  had  an  allow- 
ance to  board  themselves,  so  as  not  to  be  compelled  to  break  caste. 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


315 


Phillips  when,  on  Aug.  4,  1847,  he  completed 
the  revision  of  his  Santal  First  Catechism,  and 
sent  the  copy  away  to  be  printed.  He  said,  “It 
has  cost  a great  deal  of  labor.’’ 

The  work  done  for  this  people  by  Mr.  Phillips 
was  a stupendous  work,  especially  in  the  matter 
of  formulating  for  them  a written  language  ; it 
can  scarcely  be  appreciated  at  this  distance. 

Such  is  the  description  of  the  beginning  of 
work  among  the  Santals,  and  of  the  first  con- 
verts, by  the  missionaries  themselves.  A 
difficult  work  requiring  persistency  and  skill, 
both  were  used  and  God  blessed  the  effort ; 
the  succeeding  years  have  revealed  the  wisdom 
of  all  this  and  have  shown  that  this  endeavor 
was  the  beginning  of  a great  work  among  a 
neglected  but  worthy  people.  Later  years 
have  disclosed  the  fact  that  this  virgin  soil 
was  most  prolific.  It  was  soon  seen  that  a 
mission  station  should  be  established  among 
them,  and  that  the  Santals  should  have  a 
missionary.  But  it  took  years  to  bring  this 
about.  Mr.  Phillips  did  all  that  he  could,  with- 
out taking  too  much  time  from  his  Oriya 
work,  in  preparing  elementary  books.  All  the 


316 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


work  among  them  was  preparatory  until  a 
tract  of  land  was  secured  in  their  neighborhood 
and  actual  mission  work  for  them  was  estab- 
lished in  that  place.  It  appeared  that  this 
people,  numbering  between  one  and  two  mil- 
lion, were  most  numerous  near  Midnapore  and 
Jellasore.  Dr.  Bacheler’s  station  was  at 
Midnapore  and  naturally  he  centered  the 
Santali  work,  which  he  was  to  oversee,  not 
far  away. 

.On  his  arrival  in  India  in  1863  he  found  a 
large  edition  of  Santali  Gospels,  which  had  been 
translated  by  Mr.  Phillips  and  published  by 
the  American  Bible  Society  at  an  expense  of 
five  hundred  dollars,  stored  away.  The  trans- 
lations were  ready  but  there  were  no  readers. 
Thousands  of  Santals  were  scattered  through 
the  jungle  forests  of  the  Midnapore  district,  in 
small  villages,  but  they  could  not  read,  never 
before  had  anything  been  printed  in  their 
language,  and  they  had  no  schools.  Then  the 
fact  came  to  the  mind  of  Dr.  Bacheler  with 
great  force ; the  Santals  must  have  schools, 
they  must  learn  to  read,  these  Gospels  must  be 
accomplishing  their  mission.  For  some  time 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPQRE 


317 


there  had  been  in  the  orphanage  at  Midnapore 
a Santali  boy  who  was  a fair  student.  He 
was  sent  out  to  a village  six  miles  from  Mid- 
napore to  take  charge  of  a little  company  of 
pupils,  a young  English  police  officer  pledging 
five  rupees  a month  to  meet  the  expense. 
About  twenty  boys  were  at  once  gathered  into 
this  school,  and  it  became  very  popular.  The 
people  were  very  curious  and  came  many 
miles  to  see  boys  reading  their  own  language. 
Soon  requests  were  sent  in  from  various  villages 
for  schools  to  be  established  among  them,  but 
there  were  no  teachers.  Dula,  the  Christian 
Santal,  who  had  been  two  years  in  America, 
was  employed  to  go  through  the  Santali 
country  looking  for  young  men  who  had 
studied  in  Bengali  schools  and  try  to  employ 
them  as  teachers.  Only  a few  could  be  found, 
and  they  were  only  able  to  read,  write,  and 
figure  a little.  But  as  fast  as  these  could  be 
engaged,  schools  were  started,  one  after 
another.  The  work  appealed  to  friends  of  the 
mission  and  they  subscribed  for  the  expense  of 
the  work  so  that  the  teachers  were  paid,  at 
this  time,  three  rupees  a month.  These  rude 


318 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


teachers  needed  to  be  better  fitted  for  their 
work,  and,  to  help  in  this  matter,  a teachers’ 
convention  was  established  which  met  in  Mid- 
napore  once  in  six  months.  Each  session 
lasted  one  week,  and  during  that  time  the 
teachers  received  as  thorough  a drill  as  possi- 
ble. Through  this  agency  they  derived  much 
help.  The  number  of  the  schools  and  efficiency 
of  the  teachers  rapidly  increased,  and  in  two 
or  three  years  thirty  schools  were  in  operation. 
To  assist  the  enterprise  still  more,  a training 
school  was  established  at  Midnapore,  where 
boys  were  received  and  trained  for  teachers, 
with  all  expenses  paid.  The  number  in  this 
school  often  reached  fifty,  and  many  of  them 
made  efficient  workmen.  This  system  still 
continues,  many  of  these  teachers  have  become 
Christians,  and  as  many  as  a dozen  have 
made  acceptable  preachers.  Co-education  is 
becoming  common,  and  many  Santali  women 
have  become  acceptable  and  helpful  workers 
among  their  own  people.  In  the  beginning 
these  schools  were  of  a rustic  character,  only 
one  of  them  having  a house  and  being  sustained 
by  money  obtained  in  the  country.  This  depart- 


WORK  RESUMED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


319 


ment  of  work  was  a grand  one ; it  not  only 
sought  to  educate  a people  before  almost 
entirely  neglected,  to  give  a literature  to  a 
people  who  had  no  written  language,  but  to 
care  for  their  souls  at  the  same  time.  Says 
Dr.  Bacheler,  in  1865:  “We  have  by  no 


MIDNAPORE  CHAPEL,  CHRISTMAS  DAY,  1901 
(FROM  NORTH) 


means  lost  sight  of  the  all-important  fact  that 
secular  education  without  heart  culture  is  of 
very  little  consequence.  Hence,  we  have 
ever  made  the  spiritual  instruction  of  the  peo- 
ple as  prominent  as  possible.  ...  It  may  not 


320 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


be  desirable  here  to  speak  definitely  of  our 
hopes  and  prospects ; we  will  only  say  that 
with  reference  to  the  future  of  this  interesting 
people,  our  encouragements  are  great,  and  our 
prospects  bright.” 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE  SANTALS  — MRS.  BACHELER’S  RETURN  TO 
INDIA  — FAMINE  — OPENING  OF  THE 
FIRST  ZENANAS 

SOME  of  the  letters  written  at  this  period 
concerning  work  among  the  Santals  will  be  of 
great  interest ; on  this  account  we  insert  letters 
and  extracts.  Two  from  Rev.  J.  Phillips,  while 
on  furlough  in  this  country,  both  written  in  1863, 
are  worth  a careful  reading.  They  follow  : — 

PRAIRIE  CITY,  ILL.,  Nov.  9,  1863. 

I am  truly  glad  and  thankful  to  see,  both  by  Brother 
Miller’s  annual  report,  and  by  a communication  from 
Brother  Bacheler  in  the  last  Star,  that  the  Santals  are 
again  attracting  the  attention  of  our  missionaries.  The 
Santals  are  a hardy,  athletic,  robust,  industrious  race 
of  people,  and  although  very  superstitious,  being  “every 
last  one  of  them”  under  the  power  of  witchcraft,  and 
generally  addicted  to  drunkenness,  they  still  possess  many 
excellent  traits  of  character,  and  really  offer  a most 
inviting  field  for  missionary  labor.  They  are  free  from 
many  of  the  very  worst  features  of  Hinduism,  are  more 
open-hearted  and  frank  than  the  Hindus  are,  while  their 
females  occupy  a far  more  honorable  position,  and  enjoy 
much  greater  liberty  than  do  Hindu  women.  The 
numerous  large  families,  for  which  the  Santals  are  pro- 


322 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


verbial,  offer  ample  facilities  for  the  establishment  of 
schools,  the  more  so  as  the  absence  of  all  restraint  on 
females  allows  girls,  equally  with  boys,  to  attend  school. 
It  is  devoutly  to  be  hoped  that  the  efforts  of  Brother  Dula 
& Co.,  under  the  supervision  of  Brother  Bacheler,  will 
accomplish  good,  and  facilitate  the  establishment  of  a 
permanent  mission  among  the  Santali  people. 

No  labor  was  ever  performed  by  the  writer  with  a 
greater  relish  than  the  acquisition  of  the  language  of  this 
rude  people,  and  efforts  to  bring  them  to  a knowledge  of 
God  and  his  gospel.  Days  and  weeks  and  months  were 
spent,  pencil  and  paper  in  hand,  searching  out  the  rudi- 
ments and  the  substance  of  their  wild  jargon,  which, 
when  understood,  proved  to  be  a very  regular  and  accurate 
medium  of  communicating  ideas. 

I shall  not  soon  forget  our  first  Santali  prayer  meeting, 
when  1 was  perfectly  electrified  by  listening  to  the  fervent 
supplication,  the  spontaneous  outburst  in  his  own  tongue 
to  which  he  was  born,  of  our  first  Santali  convert  (since 
gone  to  his  rest),  thanking  God  for  blessings  received, 
and  pleading  for  mercy  in  behalf  of  his  “ poor,  blind 
countrymen,  scattered  over  the  jungles  like  sheep  without 
a shepherd.”  It  was  a glorious  time,  and  all  the  labor 
and  toil  of  years  were  forgotten  in  a moment.  . . . 

The  second  by  Rev.  J.  Phillips  is  as  follows  : — 

Has  not  the  time  come  for  the  establishment  of  a 
Santali  mission  in  Orissa? 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  our  Orissa  mission, 
nearly  twenty-five  years  ago,  this  deeply  interesting  people 
were  first  brought  to  our  notice  by  Brother  Noyes,  and  as 
they  were  found  to  be  sufficiently  numerous,  and,  withal, 
piously  inclined,  missionary  operations  among  them  were 
at  once  proposed,  but  the  feeble  state  of  our  mission  at 
that  time  prevented  anything  from  being  done. 


THE  SANTALS 


323 


In  June,  1845,  having  obtained  a Santali  man  to  act  as 
teacher,  the  writer  set  about  the  acquisition  of  the  Santali 
language.  Owing,  however,  on  the  one  hand,  to  the 
difficulty  of  reducing  a mere  oral  language  to  a written 
form,  picked  up,  as  it  had  to  be,  from  conversation  with 
rude,  unschooled  savages,  and  on  the  other  to  the  constant 
press  of  missionary  labors  among  the  Oriyas,  the  work 
advanced  but  slowly  at  first.  The  task,  however,  was 
far  from  being  an  unpleasant,  irksome  one.  Each  suc- 
cessive step  prepared  the  way  for  and  facilitated  the  next. 

As  by  degrees  I became  somewhat  familiar  with  the 
language,  my  -interest  in  the  work  among  the  Santals 
increased,  visits  to  their  villages  became  more  frequent, 
and  soon  we  had  a goodly  number  of  Santali  youths 
gathered  into  our  boarding  school  at  Jellasore.  But 
removal  from  the  native  jungle  homes,  and  confinement 
to  the  routine  of  school  duties,  poorly  accorded  with  the 
disposition  and  habits  of  these  erratic  youngsters,  as  yet 
quite  unprepared  to  appreciate  either  the  mental  or  moral 
advantages  of  such  a course.  The  result  was  that  the 
majority  of  them,  after  a short  stay,  left  the  school.  But 
it  was  not  so  with  all.  In  the  minds  of  several,  the  desire 
for  improvement  kept  pace  with  the  opportunity  afforded. 
Some  became  passable  scholars,  while  three  or  four  gave 
pleasing  evidence  of  conversion  to  God,  and  manifested  a 
disposition  to  make  themselves  useful. 

By  autumn  in  1854,  we  had  “An  Introduction  to  the 
Santali  Language,  Consisting  of  a Grammar,  Reading 
Lessons,  and  a Vocabulary,”  a Primer  of  twenty-four 
pages,  a Sequel  of  forty-four  pages,  a Tract,  “ The  Essence 
of  True  Religion,”  and  the  Gospel  of  Matthew  in  print, 
the  remaining  three  Gospels,  Genesis,  and  twenty  chapters 
of  Exodus  in  manuscript,  while  our  out-station,  Santipore, 
which  had  been  started  with  special  reference  to  aid 
the  Santali  work,  was  in  a prosperous  condition.  Two 


324 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Santali  youths,  Elias  Hutchins  and  Daniel  P.  Cilley, 
married  to  native  wives,  resided  there,  and  were  soon 
after  licensed  by  the  Quarterly  Meeting  to  preach  the 
gospel. 

Thus  matters  stood  in  January,  1855,  when,  my  health 
having  failed,  I was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  work, 
and  return  to  America,  whither  my  family  had  proceeded 
the  year  before.  The  work  had  been  fairly  commenced 
and  progress  made  toward  the  establishment  of  a Santali 
mission.  But  — perhaps  for  atrial  of  our  faith  — by  an 
inconceivable  dispensation  of  Providence,  both  the  young 
brethren  were  soon  after  removed  by  death,  and  the 
effective  strength  of  the  mission  being  considerably 
reduced  by  change  of  laborers  — new  missionaries  having 
the  Oriya  language  to  learn  — work  among  the  Santals 
seems  to  have  been  mainly  suspended  until  since  the 
return  of  Brother  Bacheler  to  Orissa,  as  noticed  in  a 
former  paper.  . . . 

We  must  insert  here  a letter  from  Dr. 
Bacheler,  written  on  a visit  among  the  Santali 
jungle  schools.  It  sets  forth  the  conditions  better 
than  any  possible  description  of  ours  can  do, » 
and  is  worthy  of  preservation,  since  it  describes 
the  first  school  located  in  that  section. 

OODABARDk  Dec.  5,  1863. 

At  the  commencement  of  a proposed  trip  among  the 
Santals,  north  of  Midnapore,  we  have  come  to  examine 
our  first  Santali  school  in  this  section. 

We  left  home  at  one  o’clock  this  morning.  1 
watched  the  first  part  of  the  night  to  wait  for  the  moon, 
and  call  up  the  party,  and  then  went  to  bed  in  a covered 


THE  SANTALS 


325 


ox-cart,  and  awoke  at  the  first  stage  out,  eight  miles, 
where  we  left  the  main  road  to  follow  a cart  path  to 
the  Santali  villages,  some  three  miles  away.  I was 
warmly  dressed,  had  a blanket  and  cloak  over  me,  and 
yet  the  cold  was  too  severe  to  admit  of  sound  and  con- 
tinuous sleep.  I have  been  sitting  in  the  schoolhouse 
with  my  cloak  on  most  of  the  day,  although  the  sun 
was  oppressive  outside.  Our  people  complain  sadly  of 
the  cold.  Dula  was  actually  shaking  this  evening 
worse  than  I ever  knew  him  to  do  in  America. 

Perhaps  a description  of  our  young  institution  may 
not  be  uninteresting.  The  Seminary  building  is  thirty- 
two  feet  by  eighteen,  the  roof  of  thatch,  supported  by 
twenty  posts.  There  are  no  walls.  A few  rods  distant 
is  the  professor’s  mansion, — fourteen  feet  by  nine,  the 
roof  thatch,  the  walls  made  by  driving  stakes  into  the 
ground  close  together  and  neatly  plastered  with  mud 
on  the  inside.  These  walls  are  about  four  feet  high. 
The  door  is  made  of  leaves  and  small  branches,  and 
is  not  yet  hung,  but  is  tied  in  its  place  at  night. 

I have  just  settled  the  bills  and  find  that  the  whole 
establishment  has  cost  us  $4.50,  and  it  is  all  paid  for. 
This  exceeds  the  original  estimate,  and  I thought  it  neces- 
sary to  remind  Dula  that  I was  not  made  of  gold,  and 
he  must  be  careful  of  his  expenditures.  The  expense 
would  have  been  greater  had  it  not  been  that  the 
timber,  standing,  was  given  to  us  by  an  indigo  com- 
pany owning  the  land  on  which  this  village  is  located. 

Amos  Sutton,  a Santal  youth,  educated  by  Brother 
Phillips,  is  professor,  on  a salary  of  $ 2.00  per  month. 
As  he  stood  before  me  this  evening,  drawing  around 
his  manly  form  his  coarse  horse  blanket,  telling  me  that 
he  was  not  able  to  take  to  himself  a wife  on  account 
of  his  poverty,  as  it  was  only  a short  time  that  he  had 
enjoyed  so  good  an  income,  I made  him  glad  by 


326 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


assuring  him  that  his  salary  should  be  increased  when- 
ever he  would  graduate  his  first  class  of  teachers. 

The  examinations  proved  highly  satisfactory.  The 
school  has  been  in  operation  three  months,  and  though 
it  has  been  necessary  to  learn  some  five  hundred  letters 
and  combinations  of  letters,  yet  several  can  read 
understandingly,  and  nearly  all  are  coming  on  well. 

The  number  present  to-day  was  fifteen.  Some  of 
the  enemies  of  the  school  raised  a panic,  a few  days 
since,  by  persuading  some  of  the  parents  that  our 
object  was  to  deprive  the  children  of  their  caste,  and 
take  them  away  by  force.  This  drew  off  several.  Five 
new  pupils  have  entered  their  names,  so  that  the  former 
number  is  made  good.  The  ages  of  the  pupils  vary 
from  five  to  twenty-five ; but  aside  from  these  are  two 
or  three  occasional  pupils  of  forty-five  or  more.  The 
head  man  of  the  village  and  a grown-up  son  have  been 
members  of  the  school  together.  The  boys  came  four 
and  five  miles. 

From  seven  important  localities  we  have  requests 
for  schools,  but  we  must  make  the  teachers,  and  raise 
funds  to  meet  the  expense,  before  we  can  respond  to 
these  calls.  1 hope  by  the  close  of  the  cold  season  to 
supply  two  more  teachers,  but  beyond  that  we  must 
wait. 

Dula  and  Pundree,  an  assistant,  are  constantly  en- 
gaged in  preaching  to  and  instructing  the  people,  and 
the  kind  feeling  that  is  manifest  toward  them  is  truly 
encouraging. 

The  time  will  come  when  this  land  will  have  its 
institutions  of  learning,  magnificent  in  architecture,  rich 
in  endowment,  with  learned  and  high-salaried  professors. 
Our  rude  beginnings  are  the  foundation  stones  of  the 
proud  structures  of  coming  years  ; so  we  labor  in  hope, 
-nd  may  God  help  us  to  do  our  work  well. 


THE  SANTALS 


327 


Steadily  has  the  work  among  these  aborigines 
gone  forward,  and  with  most  gratifying  results. 
Many  of  them  have  become  Christians.  Teach- 


GROUP  ORDAINED  A\EN 
Umesh  Pelaram 

Ram  Tonu 

ers  have  come  up  out  of  their  rude  huts.  Bible 
School  students  and  preachers  of  the  gospel 
have  developed,  and  God  has  indeed  found  a 


328 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


people  among  those  who  were  no  people. 
Dr.  Bacheler  never  abated  his  interest  in 
them.  Besides  superintending  work  among 
them  from  Midnapore  until  there  was  a sepa- 
rate station  among  them,  he  and  Mrs.  Bacheler 
carried  on  industrial  schools  for  them  on  their 
own  veranda,  where  many  a child  found  the 
true  way  into  life’s  labors  with  spiritual  prom- 
ise. One  of  the  pleasant  sights  which  greeted 
the  eyes  of  the  writer  when  in  Midnapore  was 
that  of  “Auntie  Bacheler”  surrounded  by  her 
industrial  school. 

In  1865  Rev.  J.  Phillips  and  wife,  Dr.  J.  L. 
Phillips  and  wife,  Miss  Julia  E.  Phillips  and 
little  Ida  reached  India.  Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips,  his 
wife,  and  sister  Julia  were  stationed  at  Midna- 
pore to  be  associated  with  Dr.  Bacheler.  This 
brought  Dr.  Phillips  into  close  contact  with 
the  work,  in  which  he  performed  excellent 
service  throughout  his  connection  with  the  Mis- 
sion. In  1869,  six  Santals,  all  heads  of  families, 
were  baptized.  Three  of  them  were  brothers  ; 
they  were  men  of  means,  and  were  related  to 
an  old  line  of  Santali  rajas,  then  nearly  extinct. 
These  brothers  lived  at  Bhimpore;  the  eldest 


THE  SANTALS 


329 


was  the  head  man  of  the  village,  and  a man 
of  considerable  influence.  As  a result  of  these 
conversions  the  mission  sta- 
tion was  established  at 
Bhimpore.  Dr.  J.  L.  Phil- 
lips made  a careful  study 
of  the  Santali  language  and 
removed  to  Bhimpore  in 
1873,  thus  becoming  the 
first  exclusively  Santali 
missionary  of  this  mission 
and  supplying  a need  which 
had  long  been  felt.  On 
July  17th  of  that  year  a 
chapel  was  dedicated,  built 
and  paid  for  by  the  natives, 
and  on  Jan.  1,  1874,  a 
church  was  organized  con- 
sisting of  forty-two  mem- 
bers; this  number  was 
soon  increased  to  fifty-six, 
and  forty-one  of  these  were 
Santals.  From  1874 to  1878 

' KAILAS— ONE  OF  THE  PROM- 

Dr.  Bacheler  had  charge  ISING  PUPILS  OF  DR-  B- 
again,  assisted  by  Rev.  R.  D.  Frost.  In  1880, 


330 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


the  Rev.  T.  W.  Burkholder  and  his  wife  — who 
was  Julia  Phillips  — occupied  this  station,  and 
continued  to  do  so  until  near  the  close  of  Dr. 
Burkholder’s  work.  While  they  were  absent 
in  the  country,  in  the  nineties,  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
E.  B.  Stiles  took  charge  of  the  station,  while 
during  their  recent  furlough  Rev.  and  Mrs.  A. 
L.  Kennan  had  charge.  According  to  the  Re- 
port of  1903  the  membership  of  the  church  was 
two  hundred  and  fifty-eight;  the  Sunday-school 
pupils  of  the  district  numbered  one  thousand  six 
hundred  and  fifty-five.  The  Middle  Vernacular 
School  had  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  in  attend- 
ance. Forty-seven  jungle  schools  had  one 
thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty-one  pupils. 
Twenty-seven  boys  and  twenty-six  girls  were 
in  the  orphanages,  and  the  industrial  depart- 
ment was  carefully  superintended.  One  of  the 
best  church  buildings  in  the  Mission  has  been 
constructed  in  Bhimpore. 

On  the  5th  of  October,  1865,  Mrs,  Bacheler 
sailed  from  Boston  on  the  ship  Lucothea  (Capt. 
Lincoln)  bound  for  Calcutta.  Of  the  children, 
she  took  with  her  only  Mary,  then  five  years 
of  age,  homes  having  been  found  for  the  others 


THE  SANTALS 


331 


in  this  country.  For  over  three  years  Dr. 
Bacheler  had  been  separated  from  his  family, 
but  he  had  borne  up  well.  Once  he  wrote 
to  the  sister,  Dora  Merrill:  “We  make  it  a 
daily  business  to  preach  in  the  streets  of  the 
town,  where  we  have  good  and  attentive  con- 
gregations. With  so  much  to  do,  I can  hardly 
see  how  we  could  be  unhappy,  even  though 
removed  so  far  from  the  loved  ones  at 
home.  1 am  already  making  preparations  for 
Sarah,  when  she  can  come,  and  I am  sure  she 
will  find  an  ample  field  for  usefulness.  1 hardly 
dare  to  allow  myself  to  think  definitely  of  her 
coming,  for  I see  no  prospect  till  the  war  is 
over,  or  some  favorable  change  takes  place. 
So  for  the  present  I must  labor  on  alone.”  In 
another  letter  to  Miss  Merrill  he  does  not  fail 
to  reveal  his  Christian  and  comprehensive 
view  of  the  situation.  He  says:  — 

“ I hope  she  [Maria]  will  reproduce  your 
goodness  and  impart  the  impress  you  have 
given  her  to  other  minds,  thus  rendering  the 
good  seed  you  have  sown  perennial. 

“In  this  we  find  one  of  our  greatest  encour- 
agements and  strongest  incentives  to  labor — 


332 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


that  we  live,  not  for  ourselves  or  for  a single 
generation,  but  the  impression  we  make  is 
imparted  from  one  to  another,  and  from  one 
generation  to  another,  it  may  be,  down  to  the 
end  of  time.  This  is  life,  to  live  in  our  works, 
even  after  we  have  passed  away  and  been 
forgotten.  I find  this  a great  encouragement 
in  mission  work.  We  are  laying  the  founda- 
tions of  churches  that,  with  God’s  blessing,  will 
thrive  and  exert  a saving  influence  centuries 
hence.” 

To  the  corresponding  secretary  in  1864  he 
wrote : — 

“You  will  see,  by  my  last  letter,  that  1, 
too,  was  not  sanguine  about  Mrs.  Bacheler’s 
coming  next  year.  1 have  also  looked  upon 
the  great  trial  as  yet  to  come  — when  our 

family  comes  to  be  broken  up  and  scattered 
to  the  four  winds.  The  longer  she  remains  at 
home,  the  better  for  the  interests  of  the  family. 
With  one  son  in  the  army  we  should  feel 

very  anxious  if  she  were  not  near  to  render 
assistance  when  needed.  Much  as  1 wish  her 
here,  both  for  my  own  sake  and  that  of  the 

mission,  if  she  sees  the  path  of  duty  clear  to 


THE  SANTALS 


333 


remain  another  year,  I shall  most  heartily  acqui- 
esce ...  1 am  daily  more  and  more  convinced 

that  a delightful,  extensive,  and  promising  mis- 
sion field  is  opening  to  us  here,  far  beyond 
what  we  have  ever  imagined.” 

While  at  home  Mrs.  Bacheler  was  very  busy. 
She  attended  mission  meetings,  wrote  mission 
literature,  and  cared  for  the  family.  The  fol- 
lowing note  to  her  sister,  Dora  Merrill,  speaks 
for  itself  in  this  regard  : — 

NEW  HAMPTON,  Oct.  31,  1863. 

1 have  been  digging  potatoes,  besides  doing  for  nine  in 
the  family.  I have  sat  up  with  a sick  man  twice  within 
a week.  I should  not  have  gone  the  last  time,  but  he 
himself  sent  for  me.  . . . 

Once  when  writing  to  Mrs.  Hills  during  these 
days  she  said  : ”1  am  constantly  rejoiced  that 
my  dearest  earthly  friend  is  just  where  he  is.” 
Mrs.  Bacheler  was  very  domestic ; wherever 
she  was,  a spirit  of  homelikeness  pervaded.  Dr. 
Mary,  her  daughter,  once  said:  “If  she  settled 
herself  in  a corner  of  the  veranda  or  under  a 
tree,  her  environment  immediately  seemed  to 
take  on  homelikeness  and  comfort.  Even  the 
corner  of  the  deck  of  an  unsteady  steamer 


334 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


seemed  ‘ homey  ’ if  she  sat  there  in  her  low 
easy-chair,  with  her  book  or  work.” 

Her  return  to  India  was  a joyous  event  to 
her  husband  and  the  Mission.  She  was  glad 
to  return,  but  the  breaking  away  from  the 
children  left  behind  was  a severe  trial  to  her. 
In  her  first  letter,  written  on  board  the  ship 
Lucothea,  she  said:  “At  best  1 could  but  feel 
desolate.  It  was  a tearful  farewell.  1 should 
not  be  a mother  could  it  have  been  otherwise. 
The  waving  of  those  two  wHite  handkerchiefs, 
as  the  ship  sailed  off  into  deep  water,  seemed 
like  a farewell  from  another  shore,  and  at  that 
time  some  heart  cords,  which  1 thought  had 
long  been  severed,  were  broken  with  an  inward 
anguish  which  none  but  those  who  should 
stand  as  I stood  then  could  understand  or 
appreciate.  Ah,  thought  I,  why  can  many 
mothers  be  allowed  to  remain  at  home  with 
their  dear  ones,  and  to  enjoy  all  the  comforts 
of  kindred  and  friends,  and  others  be  called 
upon  to  tear  themselves  away  from  all,  and 
even  for  that  to  be  misjudged  and  condemned? 
But  let  that  pass.  There  is  a record  on  high, 
a faithful  record,  and  if  in  all  we  can  only  be 


THE  SANTALS 


335 


sensible  of  a leading  presence  and  an  approv- 
ing smile,  it  is  enough. 

“ ‘ We  can  do  all  things,  or  can  bear 
All  sufferings,  if  our  Lord  be  there.’” 

And  yet,  as  she  continues,  she  'speaks  of  the 
children  again  as  though  they  were  never  out 
of  her  mind  : — 

“ My  dreams  by  night  and  my  waking 
thoughts  are  with  the  dear  ones  I have  left 
behind.  Just  now  while  we  are  oppressed 
with  heat,  1 think  of  them  as  gathering  round 
the  evening  fire,  but  not  at  the  old  familiar 
hearthstone.  Scattered  around  stranger  hearth- 
stones to-night  are  those  who  so  lately  ‘ filled 
our  home  with  glee/  and  roamed  with  never- 
tiring  delight  through  ‘fairy  glen,’  ‘the  lower 
lot,’  ‘the  piece,’  ‘the  pasture/  and  many  other 
haunts  which  their  childish  feet  may  never 
again  press.  Do  they  speak  the  word  ‘ mother/ 
with  tender  love  of  her  who  has  left  them 
alone  ? Or  are  they  in  uncertainty  why  they 
have  been  thus  left  ? ” 

This  voyage  had  its  usual  amount  of  sea- 
sickness, its  “doldrums,”  its  storms  and  calms. 
The  vessel  had  a very  narrow  escape  from 


336 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


collision  with  another  ship,  “homeward  bound,’’ 
about  half  its  size,  and  more  terrifying  than 
this  was  the  murder  of  the  steward  by  the 
galley  boy.  The  dead  steward  was  buried 
at  sea  and  the  boy  placed  in  irons,  an  object 
of  great  pity  to  all  on  board,  as  well  as 
of  the  prayers  of  many.  Going  up  the 
Bay  of  Bengal  the  mind  of  the  returning 
missionary  turned  to  that  first  time  in  which 
she  came  that  way.  Of  this  she  says : 
“ Nineteen  years  ago  this  very  month  1 sailed 
up  this  bay,  destined  as  now  to  the  land  of 
the  heathen.  Then  my  hopes  were  high,  and 
1 felt  strong  to  labor  and  suffer  for  the  heathen. 
How  different  now ! 1 have  no  aspirations 

for  the  future.  1 have  poured  my  heart’s  best 
treasures  on  the  altar  of  missions,  and  He  for 
whose  sake  I did  it  accompanies  me.  That  is 
all.  But  my  bleeding  heart — there  is  no  balm 
in  Gilead,  there  is  no  physician  there  to  heal 
its  wounds ! I would  not  have  them  healed. 
Would  a mother  forget  ? 1 only  ask  for  strength 
to  bear  the  pain,  and  for  that  overcoming  faith 
which  will  appropriate  the  exceeding  great  and 
precious  promises  to  my  sacrificed  treasures.” 


THE  SANTALS 


337 


If  any  one  should  think  that  it  was  easy  for 
her  to  leave  the  children  behind,  they  have 
only  to  read  this  sore  lamentation.  The  offer- 
ing of  herself  to  go  to  India  the  first  time  bore 
no  comparison  to  the  sacrifice  of  the  children 
now. 

Mrs.  Bacheler  landed  in  Calcutta  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1866.  There  her  husband  met  her, 
and  then  with  the  prayer  “that  the  blessing 
of  Him  who  seeth  not  as  man  seeth  ” might 
rest  on  this  reunion,  “the  three  years  and 
seven  months  of  family  separation  were  sud- 
denly and  joyfully  handed  over  to  history.” 
After  remaining  seven  days  in  Calcutta,  the 
trio  proceeded  to  Midnapore. 

Here  the  work  had  wonderfully  prospered ; 
government  grants  had  been  made  and 
increased;  new  and  influential  friends  had 
been  raised  up  to  the  Mission.  Soon  after 
coming  to  this  station  Dr.  Bacheler  had  secured 
fifteen  acres  of  land  in  the  outskirts  of  the 
city  for  mission  purposes.  Work  was  at  once 
begun  upon  a chapel,  which  was  so  arranged 
that  for  a time  it  would  not  only  be  a place  of 
worship  but  be  used  also  for  the  missionary’s 


338 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


residence,  printing  house,  and  dispensary.  Other 
houses  were  put  up  as  means  would  allow. 
On  June  i,  1863,  five  months  after  his  arrival 
in  the  country,  Dr.  Bacheler  organized  a church 
at  Midnapore,  consisting  of  three  members; 
three  others  were  baptized  shortly  after  and 
six  were  added  by  letter,  making  twelve.  In 
October,  1864,  the  chapel  was  dedicated,  with 
praises  to  God  the  giver.  This  building 
remains  the  chapel  for  worship  in  Midnapore. 
The  following  extract  from  Dr.  Bacheler’s 
account  of  the  beginning  of  the  building  is 
interesting.  He  says:  — 

“ To-day,  in  popular  language,  I have  laid 
the  corner-stone  of  our  Mission  chapel  with 
-becoming  ceremonies.  Not  that  I stood  by  in 
starch  and  gloves,  with  highly  burnished 
trowel,  leaving  others  to  do  the  work  while 
1 had  the  name  of  doing  it ; but  1 went  into 
the  trench  like  a man  and  laid  the  stones 
myself.  It  is  to  be  forty  feet  by  twenty 
inside,  surrounded  by  a veranda  ten  feet  deep. 
The  walls  are  to  be  brick,  the  roof  thatch.  We 
propose  to  enclose  the  veranda  and  put  up  tem- 
porary partitions,  and  make  this  answer  for  a 


340 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


dwelling,  printing  office,  and  a chapel  till  we 
can  build  more  extensively.  As  soon  as  the 
rains  are  over  we  must  put  up  some  half 
dozen  native  houses  for  our  people  which  will 
form  the  nucleus  of  a Christian  village.” 
Schools  among  the  Santals  increased  and 
prospered.  The  “relic  of  heathenism”  which 
brought  men  and  women  to  prayer-meetings  of 
their  own  respectively  was  abandoned,  and 
all  worshipped  together.  Among  the  things 
which  brought  joy  was  the  fact  that  telegraph 
communication  had  been  completed,  so  that 
Midnapore  was  only  four  days  from  London 
and  fifteen  days  from  America.  The  tithing  of 
the  churches,  the  profits  of  the  press  and  dis- 
pensary, all  left  a balance  in  the  treasury. 
Converts  had  been  baptized  at  the  different 
stations.  But  sad  and  dismal  days  came  in  1865 
and  1866,  when  a terrible  famine  swept  through 
Orissa.  Every  station  with  its  surround- 
ing districts  was  invaded  by  the  awful  scourge. 
Multitudes  died,  so  many  that  the  vultures  and 
jackals  could  not  dispose  of  the  bodies,  and 
they  were  thrown  into  the  rivers  to  be  borne 
out  to  sea.  The  resources  and  sympathies  of 


THE  SANTALS 


341 


the  missionaries  were  taxed  far  beyond  their 
ability  to  aid.  Sad  were  the  letters  of  those 
days.  . The  station  at  Midnapore  was  among 
the  last  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  plague,  which 
raged  fearfully  further  south.  On  March  1 8, 
1866,  Dr.  Bacheler  wrote:  — 

“ Famine  is  upon  us.  People  are  dying  of 
starvation,  and  ten  times  more  are  dying  of 
diseases  induced  by  the  want  of  proper  and 
sufficient  food.  Emaciated  children  walk  the 
streets,  whose  parents  are  already  gone,  and 
they  doomed  to  follow  ere  long,  for  there  are 
none  to  feed  and  save  them.  We  can  look 
upon  this,  not  to  say  without  emotion,  but  we 
can  look  upon  it.  We  can  say  to  those  who 
look  to  us  and  ask  if  we  cannot  take  some  of 
them  into  our  schools,  that  we  have  no  means, 
although  we  know  the  answer  conveys  the 
doom  of  death.” 

The  schools  were  affected  by  this  famine, 
some  of  them  were  decreased,  a few  had  to 
be  given  up.  Cholera,  as  is  usual,  accompanied 
the  famine  and  completed  what  starvation  failed 
to  do.  On  June  5th,  Dr.  Bacheler  wrote  that 
the  effects  of  the  famine  were  becoming  sadly 


342 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


apparent.  Distribution  of  rice  was  made  daily, 
one  half  pound  being  given  to  each  adult,  with 
half  that  amount  to  each  child.  Some  days 
twelve  and  fifteen  hundred  were  fed.  All  who 
could  do  any  work  were  rejected,  the  number 
of  whom  exceeded  those  fed.  Private  subscrip- 
tions were  raised  ; relief  committees  were  formed  ; 
Government  made  grants  ; famine  engrossed 
nearly  all  the  time  of  the  missionaries,  and 
still  death  reveled.  Mr.  Miller  wrote  from 
Balasore  : — 

“ Thousands  perish  daily  from  sheer  hunger. 
There  is  a relief  committee  in  full  operation. 
Of  course  the  missionary  is  expected  to  do 
most  of  the  drudgery.  Our  plan  is  something 
like  this.  We  have  a high  brick  wall,  forming 
a four-sided  oblong,  and  inclosing  an  acre  of 
land,  with  a door  of  ingress  at  one  end  and 
two  of  egress  at  the  other.  As  the  crowds 
enter — this  begins  at  daylight  and  lasts  till 
nine  A.  M. — they  are  made  to  sit  in  lines 
about  three  feet  apart.  When  the  enclosure 
is  full,  the  door  of  entrance  is  closed  and  the 
entire  company,  six  thousand  in  number,  is 
inspected.  The  weak  and  dying  are  sent  on 


THE  SANTALS 


343 


litters  and  carts  to  the  hospital,  and  the  strong 
placed  in  the  care  of  a member  of  the  commit- 
tee whose  duty  it  is  to  find  them  employment. 
All  the  rest  are  furnished  with  tickets  for  rice, 
which  are  good  for  one  meal  a day.  The  meal 
and  day  of  the  meal  are  indicated  on  the  back 
of  each  ticket,  which  is  checked  when  pre- 
sented, to  prevent  two  servings  in  one  day. 
All  are  now  furnished  with  tickets,  old  and 
young,  male  and  female.  They  are  now  made 
to  march  out  in  groups  of  three  to  five,  when 
they  present  their  tickets  and  get  their  supply 
of  rice  for  the  day.  All  this  requires  a vast 
deal  of  work  and  attention.” 

At  the  same  time  Mr.  Phillips  wrote  of  the 
conditions  at  Jellasore,  Santipore,  and  vicinity. 
He  says  : “ Another  month  is  gone,  and  still 
famine  rages  and  death  revels.  Famine  and 
its  consequences  engross  nearly  all  our  atten- 
tion and  I can  write  of  little  else.” 

On  Sept.  13,  1866,  Dr.  Bacheler  wrote:  — 

“ There  are  many,  many  sad  sights  in  this 
dark  land. 

“ After  our  Sabbath  services  were  over,  a 
little  before  sunset,  we  all  went  out  to  get  a 


344 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


little  air  after  the  stifling  heat  of  the  day. 
To-night  we  went  out  about  one  quarter  of  a 
mile  into  the  open  plain,  where  there  is  a large 
tank  being  dug.  The  English  government  has 
got  up  this  work  in  part,  to  relieve  a few 
thousands  of  the  starving  men  and  women  of 
this  famine-stricken  land  by  giving  them  work 
and  wages.  A man  can  earn  six  cents  a day 
and  a woman  four.  This  will  enable  them  to 
just  get  along,  but  where  there  is  a famine 
some  must  be  hungry,  and  if  from  any  cause 
they  should  miss  a day  of  work  they  must 
also  miss  a day  of  eating. 

“ Although  the  tank  is  comparatively  but 
just  begun,  there  is  quite  a hill  around  it 
already.  The  men  dig  up  the  dirt  and  put  it 
in  flat  baskets,  which  the  women  bear  away 
on  their  heads.  There  were  about  five  hun- 
dred at  work  to-night.  No  blessed  Sabbath 
for  them,  and  no  hope  that  the  toils  of  this  life 
will  ever  end  in  a better  state.  We  sat  down 
on  the  broad  masonry  work  round  the  top  of 
a well  close  by  the  tank  and  called  to  mind  the 
time  when  ‘Jesus  wearied  so’  from  his  journey 
sat  thus  on  the  well,  very  much  the  same 


THE  SANTALS 


345 


kind  of  a well,  no  doubt.  The  poor  creatures 
were  constantly  coming  to  draw  water,  which 
they  did  in  small  brass  lotas,  round  the  neck 
of  which  they  tied  a cord. 

“ There  were  a great  many  children  stand- 
ing and  lying  all  around,  poor  things.  Most 
of  them  were  without  a rag  of  clothing,  their 
sharp  bones  just  covered  with  skin,  dirt, 
and  in  many  cases  with  sores  ; but  all,  above 
two  or  three  years,  so  quiet.  Skeleton  babies 
were  lying  on  the  ground  crying  for  that  food 
which  hard  work  and  little  to  eat  had  reduced 
almost  to  nothing.  We  noticed  one  boy  about 
ten  years  old,  who  held  in  his  arms  a skinny 
baby  of  a few  months,  — he  was  walking  up 
and  down,  trying  in  vain  to  soothe  it.  It  was 
pitiful  to  see  the  poor  boy  try  to  walk,  he  was 
so  emaciated  and  seemed  so  weak ; but  he 
was  very  gentle  and  tried  his  best  to  quiet  the 
starving  little  one,  but  all  in  vain,  and  at  last 
the  woman  came  from  her  work,  and  sat  down 
on  the  ground  to  nurse  it.  In  a moment  another 
little  child  crept  up  to  the  woman  and  began 
to  help  herself.  Afterwards  the  husband  of 
this  woman  told  us  that  they  had  seven  chil- 


346 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


dren  on  the  grounds,  that  the  baby’s  mother 
had  died  and  his  wife  was  trying  to  nurse  it 
as  well  as  her  own.”  Dr.  Bacheler  made 
them  happy  by  telling  them  that  three  of  their 
children  might  go  down  to  the  beggars’  ground 
in  the  afternoon,  and  get  one  half  pound  of 
rice  each.  On  May  17th,  Mrs.  Bacheler 

wrote : — 

“ To-day  we  have  taken  in  a family  of  seven, 
a mother  and  six  children  — a collection  of 
haggard,  skeleton-looking  children.  Mothers 
wild-looking  and  bony,  with  naked  babies 
pressed  to  their  withered  breasts,  come  to  our 
doors  daily.  It  is  but  a mite  we  can  give 
each  one.  Hundreds  are  dying  in  our  district, 
and  the  number  will  be  thousands  before  the 
rice  crop  is  realized,  which  is  not  soon.” 

It  was  stated  that  one  million  died  during 
this  famine.  It  brought  a large  number  of 
dependent  children  upon  the  Mission. 

One  incident  of  the  famine  shows  what 
Christianity  can  do  for  the  heathen,  and  is 
worth  remembering.  One  of  the  native  con- 
verts had  a considerable  quantity  of  rice  ' 
stored.  Dr.  Bacheler  urged  him  to  sell  it  for 


THE  SANTALS 


347 


the  relief  of  the  sufferers.  This  he  steadily 
refused  to  do,  but  expressed  great  fear  that 
his  establishment  might  be  robbed  and  burned. 
The  missionary  gave  him  to  understand  'that 
he  would  get  no  sympathy  from  him,  even  if 
that  occurred.  Later  Mr.  Phillips  went  out 
and  found  him  giving  out  his  rice,  to  be  repaid 
when  the  new  crop  came  in,  just  as  he  had 
been  accustomed  to  do  in  former  years. 
Although  he  could  have  made  at  least  four 
hundred  per  cent  profit  on  all  that  he  had,  he 
absolutely  refused  to  sell.  He  had  his  regular 
customers,  to  whom  the  famine  was  personally 
unknown.  Upon  the  heels  of  the  famine  came 
smallpox.  Mrs.  Bacheler  was  exposed  to  this 
before  it  was  known  to  be  that  loathsome 
disease.  She  escaped,  however,  with  a few 
days’  confinement  and  a mild  form  of  varioloid. 

Zenana  work  was  begun  in  Midnapore  in 
February,  1866,  by  Miss  Julia  E.  Phillips  — 
now  Mrs.  Burkholder — and  Mrs.  J.  L.  Phillips. 
While  women  of  the  lower  castes  were  readily 
reached  by  the  missionaries,  high-caste  women 
were  kept  shut  up  in  their  homes,  called  zenanas. 
The  houses  are  surrounded  by  thick,  high  walls, 


348 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


having  no  windows  in  the  women’s  apart- 
ments. No  man  was  expected  to  enter  except 
the  father,  husband,  or  his  elder  brother,  and 
the  women  were  never  expected  to  go  out 
except  by  the  consent  of  their  lords ; and  then 
they  must  go  in  a palanquin,  thickly  veiled 
themselves  so  as  not  to  -see  any  one,  or  be 
seen.  The  missionaries  had  longed  to  get  into 
the  zenanas  but  had  been  scrupulously  excluded. 
When  Mrs.  and  Miss  Phillips  arrived  in  Cal- 
cutta they  heard  from  the  lips  of  a Miss  Brittan 
an  account  of  zenana  work,  in  which  she  had 
.taken  an  active  part.  Her  story  was  most 
interesting  and  the  work  was  most  promising 
from  every  point  of  view.  They  determined 
to  attempt  it  in  Midnapore.  The  account  of 
their  first  attempt  is  thus  recorded  : — 

“Last  night,  as  we  were  passing  one  of  the 
high-caste  houses  in  a narrow,  thickly  settled 
Bazaar,  a very  intelligent  looking  native  gentle- 
man sat  near  the  door.  Although  a perfect 
stranger  to  us,  he  gave  us  a glance  of  friendly 
recognition.  This  encouraged  us  to  ask  him  if 
we  might  call  upon  his  wife,  as  we  were 
anxious  to  see  zenana  ladies.  He  replied  very 


THE  SANTALS 


349 


courteously ; gave  us  seats,  and  said  he  would 
go  and  see.  A long  time  — it  seemed  to  us  — 
passed  away,  and  we  sat  wondering  if  the 
glad  day  had  really  come  for  us  to  begin 
zenana  work  in  Midnapore,  or  if,  ‘ Babu  like,’ 
he  had  slipped  away,  and  we  should  wait  in 
vain  for  his  return.  At  last  he  appeared,  say- 
ing, ‘ My  wife  is  all  ready  to  see  you  — follow 
me.’  With  many  a strange  doubt  and  query, 
we  did  follow  him  through  the  dark  rooms  and 
up  the  narrow  little  stairs,  till  he  opened  a 
side  room  dimly  lighted,  when  a slight  figure, 
almost  enveloped  in  silk  and  jewels,  approached 
us,  and  gave  us  one  of  the  most  delicately 
formed  little  jewelled  hands  I ever  looked 
upon.  This  her  proud  husband  had  evidently 
taught  her  to  do  at  this  special  time,  as  the 
Bengalis  never  shake  hands.  The  little  peep 
we  got  of  her  bright  face,  almost  hidden  under 
her  sari,*  assured  us  of  her  delight  to  see  us. 
But  not  one  word  would  she  speak.  The 
Babu  said,  ‘ It  is  not  the  custom  for  Bengali 
ladies  to  speak  in  the  presence  of  their  hus- 
bands; I will  go  out  and  then  she  will  talk,’ 


*The  cloth  worn  by  a native  woman. 


350 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


which  she  did  most  freely  until  his  return,  and 
then  he  cordially  invited  us  to  come  again,  and 
asked  us  to  teach  his  wife.  We  did  not  dare 
to  ask  if  we  might  teach  her  from  our  blessed 
Bible,  lest  he  should  be  offended,  and  not  allow 
us  to  return.  Hence  we  said,  'May  we  teach 
her  just  what  we  like?’  ‘O  yes!  only  be 
sure  to  teach  her  to  make  a pair  of  embroid- 
ered slippers  for  me,  and  to-morrow  I will 
send  my  carriage  for  you,  and  introduce  you 
to  mv  friends  who  have  wives  and  daughters.’  ” 

The  carriage  was  sent,  the  missionary  ladies 
went,  and  this  was  the  beginning  of  zenana 
work  among  the  Hindu  women  of  Midnapore, — 
a work  which  has  changed  the  hearts  and  lives 
of  so  many  of  these  women.  A most'  interesting 
account  of  the  progress  of  this  work  will  be  found 
in  “ Missionary  Reminiscences,”  Chapter  XV. 

Our  purpose  in  this  connection  is  to  call  atten- 
tion to  the  first  zenana  work  among  the  Moham- 
medans in  Midnapore,  who  were  more  secluded 
and  difficult  to  reach  than  the  Hindus.  It 
occurred  in  1867.  Dr.  Bacheler  was  called  to 
visit  a high-caste  lady  who  had  a very  baffling 
disease,  which  refused  to  yield  to  any  treatment 


THE  SANTALS 


351 


which  had  been  offered.  Dr.  Bacheler  thus 
describes  a visit  to  the  lady:  — 

“ Not  long  since  I was  called  to  attend  upon 
a woman  belonging  to  the  first  Mohammedan  fam- 
ily in  the  place,  who  was  suffering  from  an  obscure 
disease.  On  my  first  and  second  calls  I was 
not  permitted  to  see  her.  At  length  it  became 
necessary  to  feel  her  pulse.  To  enable  me  to 
do  so,  two  men  were  employed  to  hold  up  a 
large  blanket  by  the  corners,  behind  which  the 
patient  lay.*  She  thrust  out  underneath  it  her 
little  hand,  while  1 made  the  necessary  exam- 
ination outside.  After  two  or  three  days,  a 
closer  examination  becoming  urgent,  I told  her 
friends  I must  see  her  tongue  and  eyes. 

“Preparations  were  made,  and  the  women 
ordered  to  their  apartments  out  of  sight.  When 
all  was  ready,  1 was  called  in.  The  patient  was 
sitting  as  closely  enveloped  as  an  Egyptian 
mummy,  a man  holding  her  and  her  various 
envelopes  as  closely  as  possible.  First  the 
bandages  were  removed  from  her  eyes  so  care- 
fully that  only  the  two  balls  could  be  seen,  and 

* These  were  men  of  the  family,  or  very  menial  servants.  Sometimes 
an  elderly  widow  sat  behind  the  screen,  and  carried  on  the  conversation 
between  the  doctor  and  his  patient. 


352 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


a small  aperture  made  in  the  covering  of  the 
face,  through  which  the  tongue  was  thrust.  It 
was  a new  phase  of  diagnosis  to  me,  to  examine 
eyes  and  tongue  when  none  of  the  integuments 
could  be  seen.  There  is  no  communication 
between  husband  and  wife  in  the  presence  of 
others,  the  most  delicate  inquiries  being  put 
to  these  suffering  women,  not  through  the  hus- 
band, but  through  some  man-servant,  or  other 
male  member  of  the  family. 

“The  zenana  teaching  is  doing  more  than 
anything  else  to  break  up  the  seclusiveness 
of  female  society.  In  this  work  of  reform,  the 
Hindus,  as  usual,  have  the  start  of  the  Moham- 
medans. Some  twenty-five  families  of  Hindus 
are  now  being  constantly  visited  and  instructed, 
but  our  sisters  have  not  yet  gained  access  to 
the  first  Mohammedan  family.” 

But  how  mysteriously  God  works  ! It  was 
in  connection  with  this  very  patient  that  the 
Mohammedan  homes  were  to  be  opened.  The 
little  daughter  Mary  accompanied  her  father  on 
one  of  these  visits,  while  he  was  attending  his 
patient.  Remaining  outside  in  the  carriage, 
she  attracted  the  attention  of  the  man  of  the 


GATEWAY  TO  ONE  OF  THE  FIRST  MOHAMMEDAN  ZENANAS  OPENED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


354 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


house,  who  invited  her  to  go  in.  After  she  went 
in  it  was  decided  that  she  might  see  the  ladies. 
Accordingly,  she  walked  straight  into  the  zenana, 
and  greatly  interested  the  ladies  by  her  brisk 
and  cheerful  conversation  with  them.  When 
she  was  about  to  go  they  invited  her  to  come 
again.  To  this  she  replied  — did  God  prompt 
the  words? — that  she  would  come  again  if  her 
mamma  might  come  with  her.  After  sanction 
by  the  gentlemen,  an  invitation  was  sent  to 
the  mother  to  come  and  bring  Mary.  This  she 
gladly  did,  and  that  is  how  the  first  Mohammedan 
zenana  in  Midnapore  — probably  in  Bengal  — 
was  opened  to  the  missionaries. 

After  this  zenana  opened  others  soon  followed. 
Before  their  first  visit  ended,  a message  came 
from  the  Derwan  * across  the  street,  inviting 
them  to  his  house,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
Mrs.  Bacheler  could  say:  “ We  now  have  access 
to  tw'enty-five  Babus’  houses.  The  women  are 
taught  to  read,  and  after  that  they  get  lessons 
in  geography,  ‘ Peep  of  Day,’  and  the  Bible. 
About  an  hour  is  spent  in  each  house.  The 
women  are  very  eager  to  learn,  and  make 


This  is  a title  sometimes  given  to  a rich  Mohammedan  lard-holder. 


COURT  OF  ONE  OF  THE  FIRST  MOHAMMEDAN  ZENANAS  OPENED  IN  MIDNAPORE 


356 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


surprising  progress.  The  bait  to  this  is  teaching 
them  various  kinds  of  fancy  work,  especially 
making  caps  and  working  shoes  for  their  hus- 
bands. Indeed,  these  are  the  bonds  which,  the 
Babus  impose.” 

The  first  entrance  to  the  Calcutta  zenanas  was 
by  Mrs.  Mullins,  wife  of  a secretary  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society,  who  was  invited 
into  his  home  by  a Babu,  who  wished  Mrs.  Mullins 
to  teach  his  wife  to  embroider  slippers  for  him. 


CHAPTER  XIII 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS— NEAR-BY  SYMPATHY  AND 
HELP  — PROSPERITY  — ILLNESS  — RETURN 
TO  AMERICA— TO  INDIA  THE  THIRD 
TIME  — IN  AMERICA  AGAIN 

IN  ’66  and  ’67  the  health  of  our  missionaries 
at  Midnapore  was  excellent.  There  were  many 
things  to  do.  The  famine  brought  great  care 
and  labor ; the  zenana  work,  regarded  as  a 
providential  opportunity,  was  faithfully  carried 
on ; the  press  was  too  good  a friend  to  be 
neglected ; Bazaar  and  cold-season  campaigns 
were  persistently  pushed.  This  seemed  to  be 
the  time  to  push  on  into  the  Santali  country, 
and  this  was  faithfully  done.  The  teachers’ 
conventions  were  kept  up,  as  was  the  training 
school.  Jungle  schools  increased,  numbering 
forty-eight  and  then  going  to  seventy.  In  the 
Santali  work  the  European  residents  became 
much  interested.  Sir  William  * and  Lady 
Herschel  often  attended  upon  different  depart- 


* Sir  William  was  a son  of  the  renQwned  English  astronomer. 


358 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


ments  of  this  work,  and  generously  contributed 
to  its  support.  Their  friendship  was  very 
valuable.  Sir  William  obtained  a government 
grant  of  twenty  acres  of  land — formerly  a 
parade  ground — for  the  girls’  orphanage  started 
by  Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips.  In  one  year,  in  response 
to  an  appeal  for  aid,  $650  was  given  for  the 
general  purposes  of  the  mission  at  Midnapore, 
all  outside  of  America.  Mr.  Miller  at  Balasore 
and  Miss  Crawford  at  Jellasore  received  con- 
siderable at  the  same  time.  Government 
grants  amounted  to  $270  per  year  at  that 
time. 

The  Report  for  1869  set  forth  the  remark- 
able fact  that  while  the  funds  sent  from  home 
for  all  purposes  amounted  to  Rs.  13,675,  or 
about  $6,200,  the  amount  raised  in  India  for 
the  same  purposes  was  Rs.  12,587,  or  about 
$5,700,  the  amount  per  native  church  member 
being  $3.04.  Only  one  resident  member  re- 
ceived so  much  as  $10  per  month  wages,  one 
$7.50,  and  the  remainder  from  $2.00  to  $6.00, 
while  a considerable  majority  were  women 
receiving  no  separate  income  at  all. 

Excursions  were  made  into  the  Santali  coun- 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


359 


try  to  examine  the  schools  annually.  These 
excursions  'occupied  several  weeks,  and  were 
attended  with  many  trying,  dangerous,  and 
novel  experiences,  as  the  examinations  usually 
occurred  under  the  trees,  the  missionaries  living 
in  their  tents  and  carts.  Dr.  Bacheler  was 
usually  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Bacheler  and 
Mary,  who  conducted  some  part  of  the  exami- 
nations and  took  their  share  of  the  burdens. 
The  accounts  of  these  excursions  are  most 
interesting,  one  of  which  follows.  Mrs.  Bache- 
ler says  : — 

Dec.  ii,  1868.  In  a mud  veranda  by  the  roadside,  on 
the  way  to  Garbeta,  to  examine  the  Santali  schools.  This 
is  the  day  we  have  been  longing  for  for  nine  months. 
Sister  Smith,  Mary,  and  1 started  early  this  morning, 
and  here  we  stop  for  dinner, which  relishes  remarkably! 
Brother  Smith  and  Mr.  Bacheler  have  gone  on  to  Gar. 
beta  to  get  the  tents  pitched.  Mr.  Martin,  the  govern- 
ment inspector  of  schools,  and  family  are  to  join  us 
to-morrow.  The  return  of  laborers  to  the  whitened  fields 
is  indeed  cheering.  We  have  had  so  much  joy  within 
a few  days  that  we  ought  to  be  ready  for  something  better. 

The  boxes  from  our  dear  G.  and  Sister  D.  made  me 
forget  that  I was  an  old  woman  ; and  every  new  thing 
taken  out  was  an  occasion  for  a new  delight.  Even 
the  wrappers  were  precious  and  carefully  preserved.  All 
these  things  have  made  us  very  happy. 

Dec.  12th.  Last  night,  as  we  were  jogging  on  in  the 
dark,  all  at  once  everything  came  to  a dead  halt,  and 


360 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


the  bullocks’  heads  were  turned  round.  No  one  would 
answer  the  question,  “What  is  the  matter?”,  until  after 
a little  while,  when  they  said  that  a tiger  had  just  crossed 
the  road  before  them  and  they  were  afraid  to  move.  We 
told  them  to  make  a gohlmabl  (great  noise),  and  when 
they  began  to  do  this,  their  spirits  seemed  to  revive  and 
they  marched  on,  shouting  as  they  went.  We  reached 
Garbeta  at  eight  o’clock,  and  found  Brother  S.  and  Mr. 
B.  with  the  tent  pitched  and  supper  ready.  Six  schools 
had  already  arrived.  Our  sleep  was  sweet  and  refresh- 
ing. Twelve  schools  have  been  examined  to-day.  Our 
tent  is  pitched  in  a mango  grove,  and  we  have  examined 
the  schools  under  the  trees.  Mr.  Martin  expresses  himself 
highly  gratified  with  the  appearance  of  the  schools,  and 
says  that  the  improvement  since  last  year  is  marked. 

Dec.  13th.  Mr.  B.  sits  under  a tree  at  one  end  of  the 
tent,  and  examines  the  scholars  in  geography,  arithmetic, 
and  singing,  while  I have  another  tree  at  the  other  end 
and  hear  the  leading.  Brother  and  Sister  Smith  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Martin  go  back  and  forth,  seeing  and  hearing 
all  they  can.  The  teachers  and  scholars  sit  in  different 
groups  under  the  trees,  at  a little  distance,  waiting  their 
turn  to  be  called.  They  improve  the  time  in  reading 
and  singing.  It  is  surprising  that  the  parents  allow  their 
children  (some  not  more  than  six  or  eight  years  old)  to 
walk  so  far,  as  some  of  them  have  come  twenty  miles. 
But  the  whole  Santali  country  seems  to  be  waking  up. 

Our  camp  has  rather  a picturesque  appearance.  The 
ponies,  oxen,  cow,  goat,  fowl,  carts,  etc.,  all  are  ar- 
ranged under  different  trees.  The  separate  camp  fires 
and  the  general  air  of  life  and  work  make  up  altogether 
a lively  picture.  This  mango  orchard  is  magnificent, 
nearly  half  a mile  in  length  and  an  eighth  in  width, 
the  trees  all  in  rows,  but  unkept  enough  to  look  wild. 

Dec.  16th.  The  scholars  have  gone  home.  The  grove 
is  more  quiet;  still  there  is  plenty  of  life. 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


361 


We  have  been  admitted  to  the  native  magistrate’s  house, 
and  find  his  wife  intelligent  and  anxious  to  learn  to  work. 
She  is  a good  reader.  This  is  the  nicest  zenana  house 
we  have  ever  seen.  We  stay  in  Garbeta  one  day 
longer  on  her  account,  as  she  is  anxious  to  learn  to 
make  her  husband  a pair  of  slippers,  and  we  are  anxious 
that  she  should  learn  as  much  as  possible  of  Jesus. 

Dec.  17th.  The  last  school  has  been  examined,  and 
our  work  in  Garbeta  is  now  done.  The  Babu’s  wife 
has  received  the  canvas  for  her  slippers  and  instruction 
how  to  finish  them  by  herself.  Our  last  visit  this  after- 
noon was  very  interesting. 

After  a brief  stay  at  home  they  went  out  in 
another  direction,  the  account  of  which  follows: — 

Jan.  4,  1869.  Here  we  are  for  the  night  by  the  road- 
side, under  some  tamarind  trees,  on  our  way  to  the  Santa  li 
jungle  to  examine  schools.  We  started  at  three  o’clock, 
and  have  come  eight  miles.  Three  carts  and  quite  a 
number  of  our  native  folks  are  in  the  company.  Joseph 
has  the  goat,  Thomas  Perkins*  the  dogs,  etc.  Madhu 
Das  insisted  on  driving  one  of  the  carts,  making  Ram 
Singh,  the  Santali  driver,  get  down  and  walk.  In  passing 
over  a shaky  little  bridge,  he  tipped  over  the  cart,  and 
his  load  was  rolled  out  on  the  ground,  in  the  dark.  Our 
driver  had  to  take  the  lantern  back  to  them,  and  help 
reload.  This  made  us  late,  but  we  arrived  here  at  last, 
safe  and  sound  but  rather  tired.  We  sleep  in  the  carts. 

Jan.  5th.  Morning,  sunrise,  just  ready  to  start.  We 
have  stood  up  under  this  most  handsome  and  friendly 
tamarind  tree  while  Joseph  White  read  in  Santali  about 
the  new  birth.  Then  we  sang  a hymn  in  Bengali,  begin- 
ning “ Everlasting  Jesus,  Lord  of  all,  in  thy  great  name  let 

* In  the  early  work  with  the  Santals  the  boys  were  named  after  Ameri- 
can men  who  supported  them. 


362 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


every  nation  and  every  soul  sing  joyful  praises.”  Then 
Mr.  B.  prayed,*  and  now,  sitting  on  the  roots  of  this 
overshadowing  tree,  these  lines  are  sketched. 

All  are  ready  for  a start.  We  have  a hard  day’s  work 
in  prospect,  for  we  soon  leave  the  road,  but,  blessed  be 
God,  everything  is  sweet  and  happy.  We  gladly  “ suffer 
toil  and  pain  ” for  these  dear  souls,  and  everything  is 
“manna  to  our  taste.” 

One  o’clock  P.  M.  A few  experiences  we  have  truly 
had  since  we  left  our  last  night’s  shelter.  Madhu  Das 
managed  to  upset  another  gharry  while  going  down  a 
steep  sideling  pitch  which  led  into  a khal  (creek),  but 
with  aid  he  soon  got  things  righted  up. 

We  have  come  through  three  khals ; the  fast  was  deep 
and  the  ascent  so  steep  that  the  four  bullocks  fell  back 
once  into  the  water,  — and  then  came  the  rice-fields  and 
gullies. 

Well,  we  are  here  now,  ten  miles,  and  six  farther  to 
go  to-night  to  Mussuna. 

This  is  a pretty  little  mango  grove.  Mr.  B.  threw 
himself  on  the  grass  under  a tree  pretty  tired,  and  all 
the  folks  have  thrown  themselves  down,  here,  there,  and 
everywhere,  too  tired  to  dress  the  game  that  Mr.  B.  shot 
for  them  by  the  way,  — three  birds  and  eleven  bats,  — be- 
sides walking  the  whole  way  and  helping  the  carts,  so 
that  he  really  has  a right  to  be  tired. 

Mussuna,  Friday  A.  M.,  Jan.  8th.  We  arrived  at  this 
place  sooner  than  we  expected.  As  we  came  onto  the 
plain  we  saw  a long  file  of  Santali  boys  coming  in  from 
the  jungles,  with  Chinibas,  their  teacher,  at  their  head. 
Every  boy  was  armed  with  a stick,  which  we  found 
they  had  brought  as  a present  to  burn  ; also  a lot  of 
buffalo’s  milk. 


It  was  always  customary  to  pray  before  making  a new  start. 


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363 


We  found  our  little  umbrella  tent  (we  have  just  sold 
the  other)  so  out  of  order  that  it  could  only  be  half 
spread,  and  in  that  way  we  occupied  it,  but  now  a black- 
smith has  been  called,  and  it  has  been  put  right.  It  will 
not  be  a very  great  protection,  however,  being  but  one 
thickness  and  that  all  full  of  pinholes  made  by  little  gray 
insects.  It  is  under  quite  a good  mango  tree,  and  we  shall 
spend  the  sunny  part  of  the  day  in  Raju’s  schoolhouse. 
This  is  a lovely  plain,  dotted  with  trees  and  skirted  by 
natives’  houses  and  jungles. 

Examinations  commence  in  a few  minutes.  The  San- 
tals  stand  around,  while  Mary  and  I are  outside  wait- 
ing. Many  dirty,  naked,  matted-haired  children  gaze  at 
us  with  wide-open  eyes. 

Evening.  Four  schools  have  been  examined,  and  passed 
quite  well,  though  the  boys  improve  faster  than  their 
teachers.  We  are  gradually  requiring  better  qualifications 
for  accepted  candidates,  and  the  schools  are  in  the  same 
proportion  rising  in  character. 

This  beautiful  plain  is  swarming  with  Santals.  1 have 
just  come  from  Raju’s  schoolhouse,  and  have  managed 
to  squeeze  into  the  tent.  Ninety-two  people  are  within 
the  range  of  my  little  view,  just  about  the  door  of  the 
umbrella.  Mary  has  been  helping  me.  She  has  heard 
all  the  boys  in  the  alphabet  and  spelling,  and  marked 
each  one.  She  is  much  pleased  with  the  responsibility, — 
does  all  her  writing  in  Bengali,  which  comes  easier  to  her 
than  English. 

Now  they  have  all  gone  a few  rods  away  to  sing.  The 
singing  always  makes  a prominent  part.  O dear,  what 
a din  ! a great  deal  more  noise  than  music  ! It  is  impossi- 
ble to  write. 

Saturday,  9th.  Bhoodhoo’s  school  has  been  the  best 
one  to-day.  The  boys  rattled  through  the  primary  geogra 
phy  at  a great  rate,  and  they  seemed  to  understand  it. 
They  read  well,  too. 


364 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Sonaton’s  school  was  a nice  one.  He  and  Raju  are 
brothers  and  belong  to  a rather  wealthy  family.  They 
appear  out  at  these  anniversary  occasions  in  very  nice 
clothes  and  cut  quite  a dash  among  the  rest.  Raju  on 
these  occasions  wears  a gay  colored  cap  with  a long  tassel. 
They  are  really  very  nice  men,  and  keep  very  nice  schools, 
and  have  a good  influence. 

One  teacher,  off  in  the  heart  of  the  jungle,  sent  an 
excuse,  saying  that  the  parents  of  his  boys  were  not 
willing  they  should  come  on  account  of  the  bears  and 
hyenas. 

It  is  interesting  to  see  how  frightened  the  poor  boys 
are,  some  of  them  trembling  and  some  of  them,  it  is 
plain  enough,  not  able  to  do  themselves  credit.  Leav- 
ing their  homes  and  coming  before  the  Sahib  and  Mem 
for  examination  is  the  great  event  of  the  year  to  them. 
The  teachers  appear  well  and  still  continue  the  habit  of 
daily  prayer. 

The  holy  and  mysterious  leaven  of  God’s  word  is  silently 
working  through  these  solitary  jungles.  It  is  the  word  of 
eternal  life,  and  God  himself  has  declared  that  “ it  shall 
not  return  void.”  Sweet  assurance!  “He  who  runs 
may  read,”  and  “the  wayfaring  man,  though  a fool, 
need  not  err  therein.” 

Just  now  Mr.  B.  said,  “ There  is  a sight.”  I looked 
out  at  the  tent  door  and  saw,  in  front  of  Raju’s  school- 
house,  the  scholars  all  prostrate  on  the  ground  while 
Pooridree  is  offering  prayer  in  Santali.  They  are  just 
going  to  their  homes. 

Most  lovely  weather,  though  cold.  We  feel  as  much 
difference 'between  the  hot  and  cold  weather  here  as  at 
home,  though  we  never  have  frost. 

Sunday,  ioth.  A company  of  Santals  came  to  worship 
at  the  calling  of  Raju’s  drum,  and  Pooridree  preached 
to  them.  The  two  native  preachers,  Simeon  (not  the 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


365 


printer)  and  Madhu  Das,  have  gone  a few  miles  to  a 
large  market,  and  we  have  just  had  Sunday  school. 

Now  all  our  work  is  done  that  we  can  do  here.  We 
are  to  start  early  to-morrow  for  the  Silda  district  going 
back  over  much  of  the  way  we  came. 

Jan.  12th.  All  night  long  a great  noise  has  been  going 
on.  Rattle,  rattle,  slam,  slam,  bang,  bang,  went  the 
kettledrums  and  other  instruments  of  noise,  mixed  up 
with  the  shouts  and  cries  of  confused  voices.  The 
poor  jackals  had  no  chance  to  give  their  serenades,  or 
if  they  performed,  nobody  heard.  Our  “umbrella”  was 
pitched  by  the  roadside  under  a tree,  in  a village  called 
Satpati,  quite  a large  place.  This,  the  12th  of  January, 
is  the  first  day  of  the  Hindu  new  year,  and  a general 
carouse  and  worshipping  of  family  gods  is  observed. 

There  were  nine  schools  examined  here  and  fourteen 
at  Garbeta,  making  twenty-three.  Now  the  most  of 
Boogree  district  is  done  and  the  plan  is  to  go  to  Silda 
by  way  of  home,  stopping  one  day  to  see  to  things. 
But  this  arrangement  may  in  part  fail,  on  account  of 
neuralgia  and  chills;  another  trip  in  the  umbrella  ma 
be  forbidden  by  the  Doctor. 

After  we  got  here  yesterday  afternoon,  Mr.  B.  and  the 
native  preachers  went  out  into  the  streets  to  preach,  after 
which  we  all  went  to  see  a sugar-cane  press,  and  the  Babu 
gave  us  three  bottles  of  sugar-cane  sap,  just  as  it  was 
pressed  out,  a great  deal  sweeter  than  maple  sap. 

Reached  home  safely  that  evening  and  found  all  well. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  B.  B.  Smith  accompanied  the 
Bachelers  on  this  excursion.  Concerning  it  Mr. 
Smith  said : — 

“ Brother  Phillips  has  done  a great  work  for 
this  people  in  giving  them  a written  language, 


366 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  in  translating  portions  of  the  Bible  into  their 
tongue.  . . . These  schools,  together  with  the 
many  others  that  Brother  Bacheler  has  estab- 
lished, and  the  other  similar  schools  that  may 
be  established,  are  just  what  is  needed  in  carry- 
ing forward  the  great  work  of  spreading  the 
gospel  through  these  jungles,  and  making  glad 
the  hearts  of  this  benighted  people.” 

Constantly  their  hands  and  hearts  were  full. 
Now  Mrs.  Bacheler  writes  of  the  large  amount 
of  work  pressing  upon  her'  husband.  Then 
she  tells  of  the  zenanas.  She  says  : — 

“ Oh,  these  zenanas  ! what  mysterious  places 
they  are!  You  see  nothing  from  the  outside 
but  a wall,  or  a mud  house  without  a wall  ; 
but  you  follow  your  guide,  and  go  and  go, 
turning  corners,  passing  through  dark,  covered 
passages,  through  one  place  and  then  another, 
till  at  last  you  arrive  at  the  inevitable  court 
open  to  the  sky.  . . . One  court  we  went  into 
to-day  was  beautiful.  The  floor  was  smooth 
masonry  except  around  the  trees.  There  is  also 
a well,  with  a row  of  flowers  around  it.  The 
ladies  had  a table  with  their  books  and  work 
on  it,  and  chairs  for  us.  O that  we  had  more 
laborers  for  this  delightful  field  ! ” 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


367 


Now  she  tells  us  of  a Babu  who  wished  Dr. 
Bacheler  to  do  printing  for  him,  in  advertising 
a heathen  festival,  which  the  Doctor  declines  to 
do,  and  then  asks  the  Babu  why  he  holds  to  a 
religion  in  which  he  does  not  believe.  The  Babu’s 
answer  is  characteristic:  “Well,  1 don’t  believe 
it  in  part,  and  in  part  1 do.  I believe  it  in  this 
way.  If  1 leave  off  worshipping  idols,  my  family 
will  be  cast  out  of  society  ; we  cannot  buy  wives 
for  our  sons,  or  get  our  daughters  married  ; and 
when  we  die,  no  one  will  burn  our  bodies.  And 
what  is  a man’s  life  worth  if  he  can’t  be  taken 
care  of  after  he  is  dead  ?” 

Then  she  tells  of  Mrs.  Reynolds,  the  magis- 
trate’s wife,  who  visits  Mohammedan  ladies  with 
her  once  a week,  setting  aside  worldly  invitations 
to  go  and  teach  the  women.  She  says  : — 

“ This  is  a wonderful  thing,  indeed ! 1 have 

heard  nothing  like  it.  This  lady  also  got  up  a 
Christmas  tree  for  the  orphans  of  our  mission, 
and  entertained  them  in  her  own  palace-like 
dwelling.  This  is  the  Lord’s  doings,  not  ours  ; 
for  none  of  us  go  out  of  our  way  at  all  in  order 
to  cultivate  the  friendships  of  the  great.” 

And  then  a great  longing  to  see  her  children 


368 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


comes  over  her.  She  expresses  great  confidence 
in  the  care  of  her  sister  Dora  for  them,  and  yet 
says  that  she  could  be  happy  were  it  not  for 
this  yearning  for  the  children.  Once  she  says : 
“ The  cold  season  is  really  coming.  Already 
the  nights  are  quite  chilly,  and  for  the  next  four 
months  this  climate  will  be  one  of  the  most 
delightful  in  the  world.  It  will  be  none  too 

long,  however,  to  repair  the  wasted  energies 
of  the  eight  exhaustive  months  of  the  year.  The 
mail  for  our  letters  goes  to-morrow.  Letters 
from  our  dear  ones  far  away  came  last  night. 
Only  He  who  knows  all  things,  knows  the  deep 
and  constant  anxiety  for  those  loved  ones  — 
dear  to  us  as  life.  Our  arm  is  too  short  to 
help  them  when  they  are  in  trouble,  and  we 
must  be  ignorant  of  their  joys  and  sorrows. 
We  can  only  lay  them  down  at  the  feet  of 
our  covenant-keeping  God.  If  we  can  only  be 
contented  to  wait  a little,  He  will  make  every- 
thing plain,  and  we  shall  be  able  to  see  the 
reason  of  things  that  now  seem  very  dark.”* 

Again  her  whole  soul  goes  out  to  her  work, 

* It  was  near  this  time  that  new>s  came  that  the  son  Frank  Frederick 
had  died  in  America. 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


369 


and  she  tells  of  her  three  o’clock  prayer  meeting 
with  the  Santali  boys,  — the  sweetest  hour  of 
the  week  to  her  — to  which  only  seekers  can 
go.  She  tells  us  what  is  said.  “One  says: 

‘ Before  I came  from  the  jungle  1 knew  nothing. 
My  mind  was  dark  as  midnight.  I was  Satan’s 
true  servant,  but  now  I have  come  to  the  true 
light,  only  1 want  more  and  more  of  it  in  my 
heart.’  Another  says  : ‘ There  is  a great  fight 
going  on  in  my  heart ; when  1 say,  “ Now  I will 
go  away  alone,  and  pray  to  God,’’  all  at  once  a 
fight  begins.  Satan  says:  “No,  no,  you  must 
not  go  now  — lie  down  and  sleep  a little.  Where 
is  God,  or  who  is  God?  It  is  nothing  that  you 
can  see  or  know.”’  Another  says,  ‘When  my 
temper  gets  hot,  and  1 am  falling  into  Satan’s 
hands,  then  1 run  away  and  pray,  and  my  hot 
mind  gets  cool  and  straight.’  ” 

There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  conversion  of 
people  who  think  and  act  in  this  way ; or  as  a 
little  boy  acted  who  had  learned  to  tithe.  Mrs. 
Bacheler  paid  a dollar  a month  for  ringing  the 
bell.  The  privilege  was  decided  monthly  by 
lot.  John  Sinclair  had  thus  earned  two  rupees, 
which  she  kept  for  him.  He  came  one  day  to 


370 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


ask  for  eight  annas,*  with  which  to  buy  presents 
for  the  Christmas  tree.  After  she  handed  it  to 
him  he  went  away  a few  steps  and  reckoned, 
and  then  came  and  put  one  tenth  of  what  he 
had  received  into  her  hands,  saying  with  a 
sweet,  modest  smile,  “For  the  Lord.”  “Dear 
child,”  she  adds,  “he  would  put  to  shame  many 
a home  Christian.” 

This  hard  work  was  telling  on  the  missionaries 
and  in  ’63  Mrs.  Bacheler  went  to  Jellasore  to 
recover  from  an  attack  of  fever,  and  to  spend 
some  time  with  that  most  devoted  and  efficient 
worker,  Lavina  Crawford.  This  visit  had  its 
much  desired  effect.  Miss  Crawford  had  then 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  girls,  all  famine 
children  but  thirty-one  ; one,  called  the  “ leopard 
girl,”  was  taken  from  a tree  in  the  jungle  where 
her  mother  had  tied  her  for  the  tigers  or  leopards 
to  carry  off  and  devour.  She  was  supported 
by  Lady  Herschel.  Concerning  the  purchase  of 
the  house  formerly  owned  and  used  by  an 
English  officer,  in  which  they  made  their  home 
during  the  remainder  of  their  India  life,  Mrs. 
Bacheler  speaks  thus  characteristically  in  writing 
from  Midnapore,  Nov.  22,  1868  : — 


Eight  annas  are  one  half  a rupee. 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


371 


“ We  have  done  living  in  the  ‘ meeting-house,’ 
and  our  removal  from  it  has  been  marked  by 
the  same  favorable  Providence  that  has  attended 
the  Midnapore  mission  from  its  beginning,  for 
just  at  the  time  that  the  congregation  has  so 
increased  as  to  pack  the  chapel  to  overflowing, 
a good  convenient  house  has  become  available. 
So  the  temporary  partition  at  the  farther  end  of 
the  chapel  has  been  removed,  and  now  there  is 
room  enough  for  all,  and  we,  too,  are  removed 
to  a house  where  we  can  invite  a friend  to  come 
and  see  us.  The  Lord’s  plan  in  this  has  been 
striking.  He  did  not  provide  us  a house  because 
we  were  inconvenienced,  and  had  no  comfortable 
room  for  ourselves  or  our  effects,  but  he  provided 
one  as  soon  as  the  native  people  required  the 
whole  chapel.  ‘ Amen  ’ say  our  hearts.  So 
let  it  ever  be. 

“ The  mammon  of  unrighteousness  has  done 
much  for  our  Midnapore  station.  The  mission 
premises  were  the  highly  improved  grounds 
of  a wealthy  English  gentleman.  They  comprise 
about  fifteen  acres,  well  stocked  with  choice 
fruits,  and  have  five  well-made  stone  wells.  The 
former  possessor  probably  never  dreamed  that 


372 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


the  fruits  of  all  his  labor  and  expense  would  go 
to  benefit  a mission.  But  the  earth  is  the 
Lord’s,  and  he  does  what  pleases  him  without 
reference  to  the  plans  of  worldly  men. 

“ Our  present  home  was  built  some  years 
ago,  by  the  colonel  of  the  regiment  stationed 
here,  and  is  a much  better  one  than  any  mission- 
ary could  afford  to  build  ; but,  providentially, 
it  has  been  obtained  for  about  one  fourth  of  what 
it  would  cost  to  build  one.  It  fronts  the  old 
military  parade  ground,  a fine  plain,  dotted  with 
magnificent  trees.  At  the  farther  side  — about 
one  quarter  of  a mile  distant  — is  the  new  bunga- 
low of  Rev.  J.  L.  Phillips,  and  at  the  left  of  our 
house,  less  than  thirty  rods  away,  are  the 
mission  premises.  So  we  are  all  near  together, 
and  yet  have  plenty  of  room.” 

Mrs.  Bacheler  took  great  interest  in  this  home 
and  its  surroundings.  Exceedingly  fond  of 
flowers,  she  found  some  time  to  plant  and  watch 
them  in  the  garden.  Like  little  children  watched 
and  cared  for,  they  responded  to  her  devotion, 
and  usually  bloomed  in  profusion. 

In  front  of  the  bungalow  she  planted  with  her 
own  hands  flambeau  trees,  which  have  most 


THE  BACHELER  BUNGALOW 


374 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


delicate  lace-like  foliage.  A portion  of  one  of 
these  is  shown  in  the  illustration  of  the  Bacheler 
bungalow.  To  watch  the  crimson  sunset  sky 
from  the  veranda,  through  these  trees,  was 
always  charming. 

The  church  had  grown  from  three  to  thirty- 
four.  Twelve  regular  preaching  places  had  been 
established  in  the  city.  Between  thirty  and 
forty  zenanas  had  been  opened  to  the  women 
missionaries. 

In  the  last  part  of  the  year  ’69  great  joy  came 
to  the  mission  at  the  close  of  the  Teachers’ 
Convention,  when  four  of  the  teachers,  all 
heads  of  families  and  influential  men,  were  bap- 
tized. A large  and  deeply-impressed  congre- 
gation witnessed  the  scene.  This  was  followed 
by  a series  of  meetings  at  Bhimpore  in  the  Santali 
country,  with  the  purpose  of  saving  souls,  organ- 
izing a church,  and  starting  in  the  building  of  a 
chapel.  A great  struggle  occurred  here  at  this 
time  as  the  choices  between  life  and  death  were 
made ; but  several  were  converted  and  baptized, 
and  the  corner-stone  of  the  Santali  chapel  was 
laid. 

In  ’69  Dr.  Bacheler  said  that  they  could  remain 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


375 


in  the  country  three  years  longer  without  fur- 
lough if  Mrs.  Bacheler’s  health  held  out,  and 
planned  to  do  so  ; but,  after  her  fever,  her  health 
gradually  gave  way.  Dr.  Bacheler,  too,  began 
to  fail.  They  tried  an  excursion  for  rest, 
and  ran  into  a cyclone  that  nearly  upset  them, 
and  on  June  20,  1870,  he  writes  from  Chand- 
ipore : — 

“For  the  first  time  in  my  life  1 find  myself 
away  from  my  post  on  ‘sick  leave.’  Not  that 
1 am  really  ill,  but  the  hot  season  has  been  very 
hot  and  long-continued.  With  the  advice  of 
my  medical  adviser,  I have  run  away  to  the  sea- 
shore, hoping  by  the  aid  of  sea  air,  sea  bathing, 
etc.,  to  forget  the  wasting  of  the  last  three 
months.” 

It  was  very  remarkable  that  with  so  much 
work  and  responsibility,  Dr.  Bacheler  kept  so 
well  throughout  his  life.  But  with  proper  care 
and  self-control  one  can  endure  much.  Instead 
of  improving,  Mrs.  Bacheler  began  to  be  very 
sick.  During  June  and  July  the  Balasore  fever 
returned  in  such  a severe  form  as  to  prostrate 
her  entirely.  With  the  hope  that  recovery 
might  be  gained  by  a change,  she  was  taken  to 


376 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Calcutta  in  a palki,*  leaving  Midnapore  on  the 
nineteenth  of  July.  She  says,  “1  bade  no  one 
good-bye  ; only  Mary  and  Julia  t gave  us  a soft 
little  farewell  kiss.” 

On  the  previous  Lord’s  day  she  had  been  per- 
mitted to  witness  some  of  the  fruits  of  her 
prayers  and  labors,  in  the  baptism  of  two  bright 
young  men  of  the  Santali  school.  The  ordinance 
was  administered  in  a tank  at  the  farther  end  of 
the  chapel  compound,  to  which  she  was  taken  in  a 
palki. 

In  Calcutta  the  party  was  cordially  entertained 
at  the  Zenana  Mission  Home,  now  called  the 
“ Doremus  Mission,”  superintended  at  that  time 
by  Miss  Hook.  But  Mrs.  Bacheler’s  case  con- 
tinued very  serious,  and  on  the  twenty-ninth 
her  husband  started  on  his  return  to  Midnapore, 
to  consult  with  his  co-laborers  concerning  plans 
for  the  future.  It  was  decided  that  the  only 
course  to  pursue  was  for  the  family  to  return 
to  America,  on  furlough.  Mrs.  Bacheler  says  of 
this  : — 

“ It  is  hard  to  leave  the  Midnapore  home, 
the  dear  Santals,  all  the  work,  all  the  endear- 

*A  palki  is  very  much  like  a palanquin. 

+ Mrs.  J.  L.  Phillips  and  Julia  Phillips. 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


377 


merits,  without  even  a good-bye.  It  is  very 
hard,  and  yet  there  is  a cord  that  draws  across 
the  sea  with  a new  strength,  now  that  we  are 
really  driven  out.  ...  He  doeth  all  things  well. 

. . . He  plainly  says,  ‘ You  may  go  home  now, 
and  take  care  of  your  own  children  for  a little 
while.’  ” 

They  knew  that  the  voyage  would  bring  them 
to  the  New  England  coast  in  a bad  season,  but 
they  felt  compelled  to  go.  Encouraged  by  the 
promise  of  the  native  Christians  to  pray  for 
them,  they  said,  "If  God  wills  that  we  get 
home  safe,  we  shall  ; if  not,  all  is  well.” 

As  real  to  them  as  to  the  Quaker  author  him- 
self, when  he  wrote  them,  were  these  words  : — 

“ And  so  beside  the  silent  sea, 

1 wait  the  muffled  oar  ; 

No  harm  from  Him  can  come  to  me 
On  ocean  or  on  shore. 

“ 1 know  not  where  His  islands  lift 
Their  fronded  palms  in  air  ; 

I only  know  I cannot  drift 

Beyond  His  love  and  care.” 

From  the  extensive  diaries  which  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Bacheler  kept  during  the  voyage,  we  make 
extracts  as  far  as  space  will  allow. 


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After  two  visits  to  Chondney  Choke,  a collec- 
tion of  one-story  stores  where  everything  which 
one  needed  could  be  bought,  “excepting  furniture 
and  honesty,”  they  were  outfitted  and  ready 
to  proceed. 

They  sailed  on  the  William  Woodbury,  Capt. 
J.  R.  Harriman.  It  was  a large  vessel,  and  they 
went  on  board  on  the  fifteenth  of  August,  and 
on  the  sixteenth  were  towed  down  the  river 
Hooghly.  The  river  is  treacherous  and  they 
were  glad  when  they  had  passed  the  James  and 
Mary,  the  most  dangerous  point  in  the  river, 
where  the  Rupnarain  and  the  Damoodah  empty 
into  the  Hooghly  in  such  a way  as  to  cause 
varying  currents  and  changing  sands.  The 
ship  was  comfortable  ; but  beating  down  the  bay 
amid  frequent  squalls,  heat,  and  mosquitoes,  was 
trying  to  invalids.  It  was  about  three  weeks 
before  the  missionary  family  — Ida  Phillips  was 
with  the  Bachelers  — took  much  more  interest 
in  things' than  to  exist.  On  the  thirty-first, 
they  were  near  Ceylon  ; later  they  were  under 
the  sun  and  all  seemed  revived.  Mrs.  Bacheler 
wrote:  “ Poor  Mary  is  all  the  time  bewildered. 
She  just  said  : ‘ Only  think,  at  Midnapore  the 


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sun  always  rises  in  the  east,  but  here  it  rises 
wherever  it  can,  and  sets  just  where  it  happens 
to  be  at  sunset  time.’  The  captain  told  her 
that  ‘ when  they  got  a regular  wind,  it  would 
rise  in  the  same  place  for  many  days.”  They 
crossed  the  line  in  rough  weather,  got  the  trade- 
winds  in  a few  days,  and  also  were  revived 
physically,  watched  the  changing  sea,  beautiful 
by  day  and  night,  and  saw  the  albatross,  ‘‘the 
most  graceful  and  dignified  bird  in  the  world.” 

On  the  first  of  October  they  found  themselves 
in  the  Mozambique  Channel,  with  “fields  of 
high  and  angry  waves.”  Soon  they  were  in 
a terrible  storm,  with  a fierce  gale,  and  great 
seas  often  sweeping  over  the  ship,  until  they 
asked,  “ Is  this  ship  to  be  one  of  the  many  that 
went  out  to  sea,  and  will  return  nevermore?” 
But  faith  in  prayer  and  the  Heavenly  Father 
reassured  them. 

“ Man  overboard  ” was  the  cry  on  Oct.  ioth, 
the  same  cry  heard  on  the  Harrison,  the  "Barham, 
and  the  Susan  Hinks,  but,  in  the  last  two  cases, 
as  well  as  in  the  present  one,  a timely  rescue 
was  made.  Cape  of  Good  Hope  was  reached 
about  the  middle  of  October.  Cape  Town  and 


380 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Table  Mountain,  “without  the  stormy  cloud 
table-cloth,”  were  plainly  seen.  Mrs.  Bacheler 
wrote  : — 

“ Memories  pleasant  and  sad  are  in  our  hearts. 
Eighteen  years  ago  we  were  here ; three  of  the 
dear  little  ones  who  were  with  us  have  gone  to 
our  Father’s  home  beyond  the  river,  and  we, 
faint  though  pursuing,  press  on  to  meet  them.” 

Here  were  “shoals  of  porpoises,  plowing 
through  the  sea  ” ; and  hanging  over  them,  and 
keeping  them  company,  was  a living  cloud 
of  silver-winged  birds.  . . . The  albatross,  the 
handsome  cape  pigeon,  and  Mother  Carey’s 
chickens  bore  them  company. 

On  Dec.  8th,  the  captain  went  on  board  a 
schooner  which  came  near,  and  brought  back 
a barrel  of  tlour  and  one  of  potatoes,  his  pockets 
full  of  Baldwin  apples,  and  papers  which  bore 
the  news  that  Napoleon  111  of  France  had  been 
captured.  The  missionaries  enjoyed  all  the 
“ returns,”  even  the  news.  In  the  Gulf  Stream 
they  encountered  a fierce  storm,  with  tremendous 
seas,  and  immense  fields  of  gulf-weed.  On 
leaving  the  Gulf  Stream,  they  plunged  into 
the  biting  cold  of  December,  peculiar  to  the 
New  England  coast. 


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381 


On  December  24th  Cape  Cod  lighthouse  was 
sighted,  but  head-winds  kept  them  out  of  Boston 
Harbor.  All  on  board  were  nearly  frozen.  Sev- 
eral of  the  sailors  froze  parts  of  their  bodies. 
The  ship’s  decks  were  covered  with  ice.  Salt 
water  icicles  hung  from  the  stiff  ropes.  Mrs. 
Bacheler’s  diary  reads  as  follows,  concerning 
the  arrival  : — 

“ Dec.  25th.  Back  to  Provincetown  at 
anchor. 

“29th.  In  Nantasket  Roads,  in  a blinding 
snow-storm. 

“ 30th.  Boston  at  last,  after  a voyage  of  four 
and  one  half  months. 

“ ‘ Home  again,  home  again 
From  a foreign  shore,’ 

grateful  to  God  for  keeping  us  all,  and  giving 
us  so  kind  and  careful  a captain,  and  so  good 
a company  of  sailors.  Tremblingly,  yet  hope- 
fully, we  again  step  out  to  resume  the  respon- 
sibilities of  active  life.” 

No  record  of  this  voyage  would  be  complete 
without  mentioning  “ Brownie,”  a King  Charles 
spaniel,  which  was  presented  to  Mrs.  Bacheler, 
on  her  departure  from  Calcutta,  by  Miss  Hatched, 


382 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


of  the  Doremus  Home.  Brownie  was  so  forlorn 
that  the  first  mate  called  her  “ The  Last  Rose 
of  Summer.”  She  got  so  sick,  it  was  thought 
that  she  must  be  thrown  overboard,  but  recov- 
ered by  having  the  end  of  her  tail  cut  off. 

Neither  should  we  forget  the  two  remaining 
fowl  — the  last  of  the  one  hundred  shipped  at 
Calcutta  — which  the  captain  gave  to  Dr. 
Bacheler,  after  reaching  port.  One  of  these, 
still  alive  and  scratching  in  1873,  when  the 
Bachelers  returned  to  India,  was  bequeathed  to 
Mrs.  Bacheler’s  sisters. 

Old  friends  were  ready  to  welcome  the  return- 
ing missionaries,  and  take  them  to  their  homes, 
but,  eager  to  gather  the  family  together  as  soon 
as  possible,  they  pushed  on  to  the  New  Hampton 
home.  The  daughter  Maria  had  preceded  them 
to  get  the  house  in  order,  and  give  them 
a cheerful  welcome.  The  daughter  Grace 
went  up  from  her  school  in  Concord,  and  soon 
the  Bachelers  were  keeping  open  house  at  New 
Hampton.  After  some  rest  Dr.  Bacheler  took 
the  field  to  canvass  the  churches,  in  the  interest 
of  missions.  Beginning  in  the  fall  of  ’72,  he 
labored  through  the  winter  of  ’73  on  a program 


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383 


of  appointments,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
sample,  and  a small  part  : — 

“Dec.  5th,  Barnstead ; 6th,  Pittsfield;  7th, 
Bow  Lake;  8th,  morning,  Strafford  Center, 
afternoon.  Crown  Point,  evening,  Rochester  Vil- 
lage ; 9th,  New  Durham;  10th,  Milton;  nth, 
Farmington  ; 12th,  East  Rochester ; 13th,  Gonic  ; 
14th,  Walnut  Grove;  15th,  morning,  Great 
Falls,  afternoon,  Charles  Street,  Dover,  evening, 
Washington  Street,  Dover ; 16th,  South  Ber- 

wick ; 17th,  Littery  ; 18th,  Portsmouth  ; 19th, 
New  Market;  20th,  Danville;  21st,  Deerfield; 
22nd,  morning,  Candia,  afternoon  or  evening, 
Pine  Street,  Manchester.” 

He  told  of  the  work  and  needs  of  the  mission, 
and  pleaded  for  workers  and  money.  Pastors 
assisted  by  circulating  notices  of  his  coming. 
The  corresponding  secretary  publicly  requested 
cooperation,  and  the  missionary  insisted  upon 
the  divine  authority  of  his  mission  to  the  home 
churches.  Concerning  this  work  he  wrote  in 
The  Morning  Star  : — 

“ I wish  to  say  that  1 am  not  on  a begging 
expedition,  but  am  making  a representation  to 
the  stockholders  in  our  mission  work  concerning 


384 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


its  interests.  I have  no  peculiar  gift  for  opening 
up  an  avenue  to  the  purse  ; have  a simple  story 
to  tell,  simple  facts  to  communicate,  and  sincerely 
hope  the  friends  where  1 go  will  give  me  a 
hearing.” 

In  this  home-land  effort  he  was  still  God’s 
ambassador,  still  serving  the  mission.  When 
not  otherwise  engaged,  he  did  some  of  the  things 
which  he  had  to  do,  some  that  he  engaged  in 
from  mere  delight.  Among  them  was  a little 
cobbling,  some  farming,  poultry-raising,  and 
some  indulgence  of  his  taste  for  science. 

In  1872  occurred  the  silver  wedding,  an  occa- 
sion made  very  delightful  by  neighbors  and 
friends,  who  took  the  opportunity  to  gather  at 
the  Bacheler  home  and  leave,  as  a token  of 
their  regard,  a beautiful  set  of  china  dishes,  silver 
tablespoons  and  teaspoons,  with  other  articles. 

In  the  mission  field,  the  force  had  been  further 
depleted.  Rev.  B.  B.  Smith  died  at  Balasore  on 
Nov.  22nd,  1872.  Rev.  E.  C.  B.  Hallam  * had 
withdrawn  from  the  work.  Mahas  Chandra  Rai 
a faithful  Bengali  preacher,  had  passed  away 
Aug.  23,  1871,  causing  great  loss  to  the  mission. 


* Mr.  Hallam  returned  to  the  Mission  in  '91. 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


385 


This  was,  indeed,  a time  of  special  need,  and, 
early  in  ’73,  Dr.  Bacheler  began  to  make  prep- 
arations to  return  to  India.  Health  and  vigor 
had  come  back  to  both  himself  and  his  wife 
sufficient  to  enable  them  to  feel  that  they  could 
with  safety  return  to  the  people  whom  they  had 
chosen  to  serve.  But  their  preparation  was  not 
for  themselves  to  any  large  extent. 

This  time  of  special  need  was  to  Dr.  Bacheler 
a special  opportunity,  and,  uniting  with  Dr.  J.  L. 
Phillips  and  Miss  Crawford,  who  wrote  strong 
appeals,  he  urged  his  cause  with  every  power 
at  his  command,  calling  to  his  assistance  pen, 
tongue,  and  the  “ sword  of  the  Spirit.”  He 
asked  for  six  new  missionaries.  In  April  the 
Secretary  said:  “Brother  Bachelfer  is  read)'  to 
return,  and  would  gladly  take  others  with  him, 
but  the  funds  are  wanting.”  In  May  he  said  : 
“Brother  Bacheler  has  some  $ 1,200  already 
raised,  leaving  $4,000  to  be  raised.  . . . We 
hope  the  men  and  the  money  may  be  found  in 
season  to  have  all  go  in  September.”  In  mid- 
summer it  looked  very  cheering.  Contributions 
came  in,  Michigan  offering  not  only  money, 
but  candidates  as  well. 


386 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


At  twelve  o’clock  noon,  Sept,  io,  1873,  the 
party  sailed  from  New  York  on  the  Olympia  — 
Anchor  Line.  It  consisted  of  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Bacheler  and  Mary,  Rev.  A.  J.  Marshall  and 
wife  (Emily  Phillips),  and  Miss  Libbie  Cilley, 
daughter  of  Rev.  E.  G.  Cilley,  of  Michigan. 
Miss  Cilley  afterwards  became  Mrs.  Z.  F.  Griffin. 
The  party  was  received,  and  most  hospitably 
entertained,  by  Brothers  Page  and  Eliot  at 
Bloomfield,  N.  J.,  and  Dr.  Perry  in  New  York, 
when  they  came  to  New  York  to  take  their 
ship.  The  Free  Baptist  church  of  the  great 
city  welcomed,  entertained,  and  sent  them  on 
their  way  with  a hearty  God-speed. 

One  Lord’s  day  was  spent  in  Glasgow ; 
another  in  London,  where  there  they  heard 
Spurgeon,  on  “ Signs  of  the  Times.”  They  then 
went  to  Westminster  Abbey  and  St.  Paul’s, 
hearing  good  sermons  and  music.  They 

embarked  on  the  City  of  Manchester  for  Calcutta, 
via  Suez  Canal,  a new  and  superior  method  of 
travelling  to  our  missionaries.  The  voyage 
was  delightful  all  the  way,  excluding  the  usual 
amount  of  sea-sickness,  of  course. 

They  reached  Calcutta  Nov.  16th,  where  they 


SCHOOL  EXAMINATIONS 


387 


were  met  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips,  wife,  and  Julia, 
who  started  with  them  for  Midnapore  on  the 
20th,  going  by  the  newly-constructed  canal  from 
Oolaberiah.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  they 
received  a hearty  welcome.  Already  had  a 
message  reached  America  which  said  : “ The 
news  of  his  [Dr.  Bacheler’s]  reappointment  to 
this  field  has  heartened  us  not  a little.  It  is 
cheering  to  find  an  experienced  missionary 
anxious  to  return  to  his  old  charge.  A hearty 
welcome  awaits  him  here.” 

All  this  was  manifest  upon  his  arrival.  Dr. 
J.  L.  Phillips  wrote  at  once:  “The  Bachelers 

return  to  their  old  field,  and  will  quickly  step 
back  into  the  familiar  places  that  knew  them 
three  years  ago.  Our  native  people  are  greatly 
delighted  to  see  them,  and  are  so  eager  to  hear 
about  the  dear  land  from  which  they  have  come, 
the  third  time,  to  toil  in  India.” 


CHAPTER  XIV 


BACK  TO  THE  FIELD  — A NEW  “COLD-SEASON” 
GROUND  — A CYCLONE  — CHANGES  — 

THE  HIMALAYAS  — AMERICA  AGAIN 

WHILE  the  rest  of  the  party  proceeded  to  Mid- 
napore  by  the  canal,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler 
went  to  Balasore  to  see  Mrs.  Smith,  who  was 
very  ill.  Thirty-three  years  before,  in  most  un- 
healthful conditions,  it  took  Dr.  Bacheler  thirteen 
days  to  make  this  trip  ; now  they  left  Calcutta 
at  early  dawn  on  a small  steamship,  and  reached 
the  river’s  mouth,  near  Balasore,  at  dusk.  They 
found  Mrs.  Smith  lonely  and  quite  ill,  but  her 
work  was  kept  up  remarkably  well.  On  reach- 
ing Midnapore  they  found  everything  about  the 
station  in  fine  condition.  The  church  had  pros- 
pered, sixty-seven  having  been  added  during  the 
last  three  years,  raising  the  membership  to  one 
hundred  and  eleven.  The  membership  was  cut 
down  by  the  formation  of  the  Bhimpore  church. 
The  force  of  native  helpers  had  been  decreased 


BACK  TO  THE  FIELD 


389 


on  account  of  a misunderstanding.  This,  Dr. 
Bacheler  began  to  change  at  once  ; also  to  start 
the  press,  which  was  standing  idle.  It  took  some 
time  to  get  things  settled  in  the  bungalow  again. 
Writing  to  the  Secretary,  Dr.  Bacheler  says : 
“ I must  say  that  my  old  destiny  follows  me. 
Losses  and  financial  sacrifices  abide  with  me. 
How  often  of  late  we  have  to  think  of  taking 
joyfully  the  spoiling  of  our  goods.  1 don’t  be- 
lieve any  of  the  Apostles  had  so  many  goods. 
If  so,  then  Job  should  have  been  there  with 
all  his  patience,  to  help  them  through  the  cus- 
tom house.”  The  Marshalls  went  to  Balasore 
to  help  Mrs.  Smith.  Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips  went  to 
Bhimpore,  and  responsibilities  were  divided  up. 
Miss  Crawford,  ‘‘the  indefatigable,”  was  doing 
grandly  at  Jellasore.  Mrs.  Bacheler  took  charge 
of  the  zenana  work,  but  after  six  months  Miss 
Cilley,  with  her  remarkable  tact  and  marvelously 
quick  command  of  the  language,  was  able  to 
take  much  of  this  responsibility.  A Midnapore 
quarterly  and  yearly  meeting  were  soon  organ- 
ized. All  departments  of  the  work  moved  on 
prosperously.  Zenana  work  was  increasingly 
promising  and  soon  sixty-five  homes  were  open. 


390 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


In  connection  with  this,  Mrs.  Bacheler  and 
Mary  visited  women  in  the  jail  every  Lord’s 
day,  and  read  to  them.  Industrial  work  was 
always  a specialty  with  both  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bach- 
eler. The  boys  and  girls  were  specially  trained 
in  this  department  in  Balasore.  At  Midnapore 
their  interest  in  this  branch  increased  yearly, 
perhaps  because  they  were  permitted  to  see 
more  of  its  fruits.  Year  after  year  Mrs.  Bache- 
ler wrote  of  the  boys,  telling  of  their  improve- 
ment, rejoicing  when  they  came  into  the  church, 
and  when  they  were  successful  prize  winners. 
Year  after  year  baptisms  were  frequent,  and 
the  song  of  the  reaper  was  heard.  The 
schools,  the  examinations,  and  teachers’  con- 
ventions were  kept  up.  Intellectual  and  spirit- 
ual development  were  constant.  Through  the 
hot  seasons,  the  more  trying  rainy,  and  the  cold 
seasons,  the  workers  pushed  on.  Dr.  Bache- 
ler was  led  to  labor  along  the  canal  to  Oolaberiah 
and  up  the  Hooghly  next  cold  season.  He  went 
in  a boat  thirty  feet  long  by  eight  feet  wide, 
manned  by  four  or  five  men,  and  accompanied 
by  Jacob  Mishra,  the  native  preacher.  This 
boat  was  their  home.  By  night  they  traveled, 


BACK  TO  THE  FIELD 


391 


by  day  they  worked,  visiting  markets  in  the 
morning,  bazaars  in  the  afternoon,  doing  medical 
work  morning  and  evening.  The  people  of  this 
locality  were  very  interesting.  A conversation 
which  he  had  with  a liquor  seller  ran  as  follows  : — 
“How  much  do  you  sell  by  the  month?’’ 
“From  one  to  two  hundred  rupees’  worth.’’ 
“Who  drink  so  much  ? ” 

“ Well,  the  Babus  mostly.’’ 

“ But  how  is  it  I never  see  any  signs  of  their 
drinking,  and  never  see  them  drunk?” 

“Oh,  they  don’t  drink  like  Europeans,  they 
never  drink  publicly  or  at  their  homes.  They 
generally  make  a night  party  at  some  house  of 
ill-repute,  where  they  will  dispose  of  from  one 
to  twelve  bottles.  They  drink  and  carouse, 
and  vomit  and  roll  about  on  the  ground,  but 
do  not  go  out  until  they  are  sober.  That  is 
the  reason  you  don’t  see  it.” 

“ Do  you  think  liquor  a good  thing  ? ” 

“ Well,  yes,  it  stimulates  and  makes  men  feel 
strong  for  a time.” 

“ Do  you  drink  ? ” 

“No.” 

“Why  not,  if  it  is  a good  thing?” 


392 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


“ We  make  and  sell,  but  we  are  not  allowed 
to  drink  it.” 

“But  why  not,  since  it  is  a good  thing?” 

“ Well,  it  would  destroy  our  business,  all 
would  be  in  confusion  ; people  would  take  advan- 
tage of  us,  and  our  shop  would  be  a disgraceful 
place.” 

“ But  why  not  have  a good  time  and  indulge 
a little  when  your  shop  is  closed,  or  when  you 
are  away  from  your  business,  since  it  is  a good 
thing  ? ” 

“ It  would  never  do,  it  is  contrary  to  our 
caste  rules,  and  if  any  one  of  us  should  take 
but  a single  taste  he  would  be  fined  ten  rupees.” 

“ But  if  it  is  contrary  to  the  Hindu  religion, 
how  is  it  that  the  Babus  drink  with  impunity  ? ” 

“Oh,  they  don’t  care  for  religion  in  secret; 
should  they  drink  publicly  they  would  lose 
caste.” 

It  should  be  noticed  that  the  manufacturers 
of  and  dealers  in  alcoholic  drinks  are  teetotal- 
ers themselves  and  that  the  use  of  spirits  by 
the  higher  classes  is  largely  in  secret.  But  it 
is  destroying  some  of  India’s  finest  intellects,  and 
scattering  to  the  winds  the  hoarded  wealth  of 


BACK  TO  THE  FIELD 


393 


centuries.  The  logic  of  this  man  was  quite 
like  the  logic  of  the  saloonists  of  America. 

“ Again,”  says  Dr.  Bacheler,  ‘‘this  same  shop- 
keeper turned  upon  me  with  the  question,  ‘ How 
is  it  that  with  all  your  preaching  so  few  people 
become  Christians’?  1 replied,  ‘The  reason 
is  clear  enough.  Take  yourself  for  example. 
You  believe  intellectually,  but  you  know  that 
if  you  become  a Christian  you  must  give  up 
your  soul-destroying  business,  stop  your  lying, 
learn  to  tell  the  truth,  and  become  a good  man. 
You  say  if  you  do  all  this  your  prospects  in  life 
are  ruined.  You  adopt  the  wiles  of  the  European 
because  they  serve  your  lust  for  gain,  but  you 
discard  his  virtues  because  you  think  his  vir- 
tues would  not  be  profitable.  As  a business 
man  these  are  your  reasons  for  not  being  a 
Christian, and  the  masses  have  similar  reasons.’  ” 

This  plain  talk  was  listened  to  by  a number 
of  Babus  and  was  kindly  received. 

Other  conversations  of  equal  interest  were 
had  on  this  trip  which  we  have  not  space  to 
record.  Tumlook,  and  the  Botanical  Garden  near 
Calcutta  were  interesting  places  to  work  in.  The 
latter  place,  with  trees  and  shrubs  from  every 


394 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


part  of  the  torrid  zone,  Africa,  South  America, 
and  the  West  Indies,  where  more  than  three 
thousand  species  were  cultivated,  being  itself  a 
nursery  for  all  India,  was  a place  full  of  interest 
and  information  to  our  missionary. 

In  the  meantime  flowers  had  been  planted  in 
front  of  the  Midnapore  bungalow,  and  two  hun- 
dred bananas  had  been  set  out  by  Mrs.  Bache- 
ler.  The  entire  house  was  utilized,  one  corner 
being  devoted  to  the  Doctor’s  study  and  dis- 
pensary. Miss  Cilley  occupied  one  room  with 
her  class  of  girls  and  her  teacher  ; Mr.  Frost 
and  his  teacher  another ; Mary  and  her  class  of 
English  girls  another ; Mrs.  Bacheler  and  her 
teacher  another ; Mr.  Lawrence  another.  There 
was  much  to  be  done,  and  the  boys  in  the  school 
had  work  assigned  them.  Four  boys  swept  cer- 
tain parts  of  the  house,  made  the  beds  of  Messrs. 
Frost  and  Lawrence,  and  trimmed  the  lamps. 
One  boy  brought  water  for  the  four  bathrooms, 
one  swept  out  the  drain  around  the  house ; two 
boys  brought  water  for  the  flower  pots  and  the 
flower  garden  ; four  dug  grass  for  the  horse  and 
pony  ; two  brought  loam  from  the  stable  ; six 
or  eight  watered  the  banana  orchard  and  sweet 


DR.  AND  MRS.  BACHELER  AND  MARY 


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395 


potato  patch  ; one  brought  water  for  the  cook, 
and  one  cut  the  wood  for  the  cook-room  ; and 
Auntie  Bacheler  was  in  the  midst  of  it  all. 

The  morning  of  October  15th,  ’74,  was  dark 
and  cloudy,  with  a light  rain  ; wind  and  rain 
increased  during  the  day,  so  that  by  eight  o’clock 
it  was  evident  that  a heavy  gale  was  setting 
in,  and  would  sweep  over  Midnapore.  The 
Bacheler  bungalow  had  eighteen  outside  doors  ; 
these  with  the  windows  and  Venetians  were 
carefully  barricaded.  We  give  the  account  of 
this  storm  as  written  by  Dr.  Bacheler.  He 
says  : — 

“ Our  first  loss  was  the  thatch  roof  over  Miss 
Cilley’s  room  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
house.  That  was  doubled  over  onto  the  adjoin- 
ing roof,  and,  hanging  down  on  the  outside, 
left  the  room  to  be  filled  with  falling  timber  and 
other  rubbish.  By  nine  o’clock  it  had  .become 
evident  that  the  fastenings  on  the  north  doors 
were  insufficient,  and  all  the  available  boxes 
were  packed  against  them.  By  ten  o’clock  the 
boxes  were  too  light  to  resist  the  force  of  the 
wind,  and  a heavy  couch  was  leaned  against 
the  most  exposed  door.  It  did  effectual  service. 


396 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


In  the  meantime  we  noticed  a slight  rumbling 
sound  on  the  south  side  of  the  house,  as  though 
a carriage  were  passing  along  the  veranda  ; we 
wondered  what  could  be  adrift  there.  On  look- 
ing out,  we  found  that  our  driveway,  sixty  by 
fourteen  feet,  with  its  thatch  roof,  supported 
on  fourteen  brick  pillars,  had  come  down  with 
a crash  ; while  the  roar  of  the  tempest  was  so 
loud  that  those  in  the  center  room  heard  nothing 
else.  By  this  time  most  of  the  rooms  were 
flooded  with  water,  coming  in  at  the  doors  as 
well  as  through  the  roof,  plainly  showing  that 
the  wind  was  doing  its  work  over  our  heads. 

“ Mrs.  J.  L.  Phillips  with  her  three  children  had 
come  in  from  Bhimpore  to  our  quarterly  meeting 
and  had  brought  along  the  school  girls, — some 
eighteen  or  twenty  of  them.  They  were  quartered 
with  our  zenana  teachers  in  a building  a few  rods 
away.  About  ten  o’clock  we  first  heard  from 
them.  Their  house  had  fallen  in,  and  those 
who  could  reach  us  came  to  our  doors  clamoring 
for  admittance.  Not  without  danger  we  took 
away  our  barricade,  and  drew  them  in  one  by 
one.  Still  some  were  missing. 

“Anxiously  we  watched  the  slow-turning 


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397 


hands  of  the  clock,  hoping  that  when  it  struck 
twelve,  the  turning-point  would  be  reached. 
The  welcome  sound  came  at  last,  and  almost 
immediately  we  were  aware  of  a slight  decline 
in  the  force  of  the  wind.  At  one  o’clock  we 
began  a search  for  the  missing,  but  our  lanterns 
went  out,  and  we  were  left  in  total  darkness, 
with  scarcely  strength  enough  to  stand  up  against 
the  beating  storm. 

“One  half  hour  we  waited,  fully  aware  that 
precious  lives  were  in  great  danger.  Then 
Brother  Frost  and  1 started  again,  and  this  time 
succeeded  in  reaching  the  wrecked  houses.  Here 
we  found  one  of  the  larger  girls  beneath  a heap 
of  mats  and  rubbish.  She  was  taken  in.  Still 
two  of  the  girls  were  missing.  They  had  started 
with  the  others,  but  got  lost  in  the  darkness. 

“On  our  second  trip  we  found  one  crouching 
beneath  a fallen  roof.  Directly  as  the  lantern 
light  flashed  upon  her,  she  began  to  gather  up 
her  fallen  cloth,  and  make  herself  presentable, 
and  was  then  taken  into  the  house.  Another 
journey  as  far  as  we  could  venture  discovered 
no  more,  living  or  dead.  Another  still,  and  we 
found  the  little  girl  sitting  in  a hole,  bowed  down 


398 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


over  the  broken  fence,  still  as  death.  Brother 
Frost  cried,  ‘ She  is  dead  ! ’ But  on  lifting  her 
up  she  uttered  a faint  sound,  and  soon,  resting 
in  loving  arms,  was  brought  back  to  life.  Two 
of  the  larger  girls  did  not  appear  until  morning. 
They  got  lost  in  the  darkness,  and  wandered 
away. 

“Our  next  trip  was  to  the  stable  twenty 
rods  distant  ; a family  of  three  persons  and  four 
horses  were  its  tenants.  The  entire  roof  had 
fallen  in,  with  timbers  and  rubbish,  all  about  the 
houses.  Yet  none  of  them,  so  far  as  we  could 
perceive,  had  received  so  much  as  a scratch.  A 
lusty  whinny  from  ‘ Charlie,’  the  favorite  horse, 
was  a welcome  sound.  It  seemed  to  say, 
< We’re  all  alive,  and  right  glad  to  see  you.’ 
The  terrified  woman  of  the  family  was  taken 
to  our  house,  while  her  husband,  a strong  and 
brave  fellow,  joined  us  in  our  further  search. 

“Our  Christian  village  is  forty  rods  distant, 
whither  we  made  our  way  through  fallen  trees 
and  pools  of  water.  The  chapel  was  reached 
first.  Here  we  found  most  of  the  school  boys, 
and  a few  others,  all  safe. 

“ The  nearest  family,  man,  wife,  and  child, 


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399 


answered  our  lusty  shout,  and  were  drawn  out 
of  their  fallen  house  and  taken  to  the  chapel. 
Then  the  next,  and  the  next,  until  all  had 
been  rescued  who  were  within  reach  ; and 
though  every  house  had  been  sadly  broken, 
and  most  of  them  completely  crushed,  the 
inmates  were  all  safe  and  sound.* 

“ Heartfelt  and  earnest  were  the  expressions 
of  ‘ Thank  the  Lord,’  when  all  were  safe  in  the 
chapel,  and  had  we  known  how  death  was 
reigning  around  us,  these  expressions  would 
have  been  ten  times  more  fervent. 

“ The  rate  of  the  wind  was  probably  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  an  hour, 
with  a force  of  twenty-five  pounds  to  the  square 
foot.  The  rain-guage  gave  thirteen  inches  as 
the  fall  during  twenty-four  hours.  The  town 
is  a wreck  so  far  as  the  houses  of  the  lower 
classes  are  concerned.  The  casualties  have  been 
heavy.  A small  stream,  nearly  dry  during  the 
dry  season,  runs  through  the  town,  whose  banks 
were  thickly  studded  with  mud  houses.  The 
sudden  gush  of  water  raised  the  stream  some 

*The  walls  of  these  houses  were  made  of  mud,  and  easily  demolished 
by  a driving  rain. 


400 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


twenty  or  twenty-five  feet,  washing  away  some 
of  the  houses,  dissolving  the  walls  of  others,  and 
leaving  the  entire  place  reached  by  the  water  a 
scene  of  desolation.  Some  of  the  people  were 
washed  away  and  drowned,  while  many  were 
crushed  beneath  the  falling  walls.  Probably 
not  less  than  one  hundred  of  these  perished  in 
the  fearful  night,  and  throughout  the  district  of 
Midnapore  more  than  five  hundred.  . . . Modhu 
Das,  one  of  our  native  preachers,  perished.  He 
had  spent  his  last  Sabbath  with  us,  working  well 
for  the  Master  ; he  preached  his  last  sermon 
in  the  Bazaar,  where  he  had  stood  year  after 
year,  then  left  home  for  Santipore,  which  he  had 
almost  reached  when,  taking  shelter  from  the 
storm  in  a mud  house,  the  wall  fell  upon  him 
and  his  blessed  work  was  done.” 

Although  the  pecuniary  loss  to  the  mission 
was  large,  and  it  would  require  much  time  to 
rebuild,  the  loss  of  Modhu  Das  was  the  greater  ; 
his  place  could  not  be  filled.  Such  experiences 
as  these  add  to  the  hardships  and  dangers  of 
the  missionary’s  life. 

In  ’77,  the  desirability  of  locating  a mission  at 
Contai  was  seen  and  shown  to  the  Board  by 


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401 


Dr.  Bacheler,  who  described  the  people,  the 
district,  and  the  splendid  opportunity. 

In  ’80,  Miss  Crawford  was  very  ill,  and  April 
1 8,  ’82,  she  died,  still  trying  to  stick  to  her 
post, — brave,  faithful  woman  that  she  was.  In 
the  meantime,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler  were 
feeling  the  burden  of  years  and  care,  and  in 
the  summer  of  ’79  they  had  to  flee  to  the 
mountains.  Both  were  far  from  well,  and  Dr. 
Phillips  wrote  home  : “ The  sight  of  the  eternal 
snows  and  the  blessed  cold  breeze  should  put 
life  and  health  enough  into  these  tired  workers 
to  let  them  toil  on  for  a few  years  longer  in 
this  unfriendly  climate.  But  the  churches  should 
know  that  these  toilers  of  so  many  years  cannot 
be  expected  to  stay  here  many  years  more.” 
And  certainly  the  ever  cold,  ever  beautiful, 
ever  refreshing  Himalayas  had  a recuperating 
effect  upon  them. 

The  family  started  for  the  mountains  on  Oct. 
5th,  going  to  Darjeeling,  where  they  remained 
three  months.  The  last  twenty  miles  of  the  jour- 
ney Dr.  Bacheler  made  on  foot,  while  the  ladies 
rode  in  palanquins,  with  coolies  to  carry  the  bag- 
gage. The  Doctor  was  greatly  pleased  to  find 


402 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


how  strong  his  heart  was  when  tested  by  the 
rough  mountain  climbing.  Kerseong,  situated 
at  the  head  of  an  immense  ravine,  four  thousand 
five  hundred  feet  above  the  sea,  greatly  inter- 
ested him.  Down  the  ravine,  and  beyond,  the 
plains  of  Bengal  stretch  away  to  the  south,  as 
far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  Near  the  mountains, 
tea  plantations  are  scattered  here  and  there 
beyond  the  rice-fields.  He  expressed  his  enthu- 
siasm as  follows  : — 

“On  the  north  there  is  a beautiful  amphi- 
theatre of  hills,  some  twenty  miles  in  circum- 
ference. These  slopes  are  covered  with  growing 
tea  — some  ten  or  twelve  plantations — each 
with  its  steam-factory  in  sight.  The  farther 
range,  fifteen  miles  away  in  a direct  line,  is 
the  boundary  of  Nepal.  Far  away  to  the  north, 
towering  in  solitary  grandeur,  is  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  snowy  range,  Kinchinjinga,  twenty- 
eight  thousand  feet  high,  next  to  Mount  Everest 
the  highest  peak  in  the  world. 

“ There  is  the  eternal  snow,  through  heat  and 
cold,  through  rain  and  sunshine,  ever  the  same. 
It  is  an  untiring  vision,  to  watch  the  varying 
shades  of  light  falling  upon  it,  from  early  dawn 


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403 


till  it  glistens  in  the  purest  white  of  midday.  In 
a clear  morning  Mount  Everest  may  be  seen 
from  some  of  the  heights  about  Darjeeling,  but 
I did  not  see  it. 

“ A walk  of  twenty  miles  by  the  carriage 
road  brought  us  to  Darjeeling,  the  mountain  cap- 
ital of  Bengal.  For  eight  months  of  the  year 
the  government  is  located  here,  and  for  the  re- 
maining four  months  at  Calcutta.  There  are 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  houses  and  several 
hotels  and  boarding  houses,  occupied  by  perma- 
nent residents,  transient  visitors,  and  Govern- 
ment officers.  The  lieutenant-governor’s  mansion 
and  residences  of  other  officials  are  here.  It 
has  two  churches,  three  seminaries,  a newspaper, 
bank,  etc.  This  is  the  center  of  the  tea  interest 
in  this  part  of  India.” 

Although  he  came  here  largely  for  recupera- 
tion, and  although  the  beautiful  scenery  of  the 
valleys  and  plains  below,  the  grandeur  of  the 
mountains  above,  appealed  to  his  nature,  he 
never  for  a moment  lost  his  spirit  of  missions. 
Halting  at  Siliguri  * he  was  out  among  the  men 
and  women  who  were  engaged  in  building  a stone 

*At  Siliguri  the  railroad  terminated  and  the  traveler  then  had  to 
proceed  by  pony,  pony-cart,  or  on  foot. 


DARJEELING  AND  THE  SNOWS 


BACK  TO  THE  FIELD 


405 


bridge.  At  Kerseong,  midway  between  the  plains 
and  Darjeeling,  he  remained  ten  days,  found  twen- 
ty-five Bengali  Babus  to  preach  to,  besides  some 
others.  At  Darjeeling  he  made  a canvass  of  the 
locality,  and  worked  among  the  people  as  a 
missionary.  He  found  three  hundred  Babus 
employed  here,  two  hundred  of  whom  remained 
permanently,  while  one  hundred  came  and  went 
with  the  government;  twenty-five  of  the  former 
had  their  families  and  were  considered  perma- 
nent residents.  These  Babus  were  well  edu- 
cated. Here  was,  indeed,  a large  place  for 
mission  work  among  the  mountaineers  and  those 
who  came  from  the  plains. 

In  the  year  1880  Mrs.  Bacheler  was  so  ill 
that  her  husband  did  not  get  far  from  home. 
In  ’81,  accompanied  by  her  daughter  Mary, 
Miss  Hattie  Phillips,  and  Miss  Hooper,  she 
went  to  Darjeeling  again,  hoping  to  obtain  that 
recuperation  which  would  save  a much  larger 
expense  .and  longer  absence  from  the  field. 
Very  soon  her  vitality  was  renewed  and  her 
soul  was  stirred  by  the  grandeur  about  her ; 
she  must  write  others  about  it,  and  after  describ- 
ing the  sublime,  solitary  peaks  of  ice  she  says': — 


406 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


“ To  come  down  to  common  things  : We  have 
three  rooms  partly  furnished,  and  we  keep  house, 
that  being  the  only  way  we  could  be  here  at 
all.  Boarding  would  be  quite  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. We  had  to  bring  our  bedding,  cookery, 
cutlery,  kitchen  utensils,  and  a few  stores.  It 
is  possible  that  the  expense  will  not  be  above 
fifteen  dollars  per  month  for  each.  Of  course 
scenery  is  studied,  but  not  enough  to  interfere 
with  our  greatest  benefit.  We  are  simply  enjoy- 
ing every  moment.” 

In  ’82  Dr.  Bacheler  tried  the  mountains  again  ; 
this  time  he  did  not  go  to  Darjeeling,  but  farther 
up  the  range  and  to  the  west,  to  Naini  Tal.  He 
stopped  a couple  of  days  with  an  old  friend,  Dr. 
Lazarus,  at  Benares,  four  hundred  and  fifteen 
miles  from  Calcutta.  One  hundred  miles  fur- 
ther on  he  tarried  a few  days  with  Mr.  Hallam 
at  Allahabad,  where  he  was  meeting  with  excel- 
lent success.  Going  through  Cawnpore  and 
Lucknow  he  stopped  a while  at  Bareilly,  examin- 
ing a flourishing  theological  school,  and  general 
mission  work ; thence  seventy-five  miles  north 
to  Naini  Tal.  Here  he  saw  the  sublime  moun- 
tain range  from  another  point  of  view,  here  he 


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407 


found  refreshing,  and  here  he  met  opportunities 
to  reveal  that  great  and  all-absorbing  motive 
of  his  life,  a desire  to  lead  the  heathen  to  Jesus 
Christ.  He  describes  his  railway  traveling  as 
follows : — 

“ Railway  traveling  in  this  country  is  cheap, 
if  one  does  not  happen  to  be  possessed  with  a 
troublesome  dignity.  The  first  class  takes  those 
with  free  passes,  a few  with  whom  money  is 
no  object,  and  some  the  condition  of  whose  dig- 
nity requires  a first-class  ticket,  which  costs 
about  five  cents  a mile.  The  second  class 
takes  a good  many  respectable  Europeans  and 
Eurasians,  and  the  brandy  bottle  is  sometimes 
conspicuous.  The  ticket  is  one  half  the  price 
of  the  first.  The  third  class  takes  natives  mostly, 
the  respectability  of  the  country  usually.  The 
third  class  is  one  half  the  price  of  the  second. 
So  as  economy  suits  my  pocket,  and  I can 
have  respectable  company,  and  am  not  troubled 
with  dignity,  I take  third  class. 

“Spreading  out  my  bedding — bedding  always 
goes  with  an  Indian  traveler  — on  one  of  the 
capacious  seats,  I can  sit  or  recline,  as  I prefer. 
My  little  kerosene  stove  is  also  my  companion, 


408 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  with  a box  of  biscuit  and  the  wherewithal 
for  a cup  of  tea,  1 can  take  a lunch  at  any 
time  of  day  or  night. 

“Leaving  Calcutta  at  eleven  P.  M.,  we  roll 
out  into  the  darkness.  For  a few  miles  we  have 
company,  perhaps  one  half  the  seats  are  occu- 
pied, but  after  we  have  passed  a few  stations 
there  remains  only  here  and  there  a head  to 
be  seen  above  the  high  backs  of  the  seats. 

“ One  feature  of  my  traveling  experience  I 
refer  to  with  pleasure.  The  Hindus  are  inquisi- 
tive. My  companions  wish  to  know  where  1 
am  going,  where  1 came  from,  and  then  very 
modestly  ask  what  1 am.  When  1 tell  them 
that  I am  a missionary  their  countenances  lighten, 
and  they  begin  to  ask  if  1 know  such  and  such 
of  their  acquaintances  who  are  missionaries. 
Directly  1 hear  them  talking  among  themselves : 

‘ The  Sahib  is  a gentleman,  he  is  a good  man, 
he  is  a learned  man,  altogether  a wonderful 
man,’ etc.  I say  1 refer  to  this  with  pleasure, 
not  only  because  it  is  pleasant  to  be  flattered, 
but  because  it  shows  in  what  estimation  mis- 
sionaries are  held  by  the  heathen.  They  are 
regarded  to  be  the  friends  of  the  people.’’ 


BACK  TO  THE  FIELD 


409 


By  these  timely  excursions  the  missionaries 
were  revived,  and  were  able  to  hold  on  longer 
at  their  posts.  With  increasing  years,  recupera- 
tion was  slower,  less  thorough  and  less  abiding. 
While  Dr.  Bacheler  was  on  his  trip  to  Naini  Tal, 
Dr.  Phillips  wrote  home,  under  date  of  Sept.  25, 
1882,  saying  : — 

“Dr.  Bacheler  is  the  senior  missionary,  and 
it  is  quite  probable  that  he  will  not  be  able  to 
remain  much  longer  than  the  present  year 
without  a complete  rest, — a good  long  furlough. 
He  was  more  broken  down  before  he  went  away 
this  time.  He  is  slowly  picking  up  at  Naini 
Tal,  in  the  Himalayas.  He  has  been  gone  seven 
weeks  and  we  hope  he  will  be  able  to  stay 
away  several  weeks  longer.  During  his  absence 
all  of  his  work  falls  to  me,  of  course.  Both 
Mrs.  Bacheler  and  Mary  are  down  with  fever. 
Mrs.  Bacheler  seems  better  this  morning.  We 
have  not  said  anything  to  Dr.  Bacheler  about 
this,  lest  he  should  hurry  back  home  before 
he  is  thoroughly  rested.” 

Miss  Crawford’s  death  affected  Mrs.  Bacheler 
deeply,  for  they  were  strong  friends.  After 
she  passed  away  Mrs.  Bacheler,  while  in  Jella- 
sore,  thus  wrote  of  her : — 


410 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


“ I seem  to  be  with  dear  Sister  Crawford,  or 
rather  she  seems  to  be  close  to  me,  all  the 
time.  . . . We  can  only  whisper  to  ourselves, 
‘A  glorious  woman  has  gone  beyond  our  sight;  a 
steady  light  has  gone  out,  but  the  afterglow 
rests  softly  behind.’  This  is  a beautiful  place, 
like  a paradise,  and  she  has  made  it  so, — flowers 
and  trees,  sweetly  singing  birds,  everything 
calm.  Everything  laments  Sister  Crawford, 
and  well  it  may.  Earth  has  few  such  gems  as 
she  was.” 

Work  was  constantly  increasing.  On  account 
of  a fever  epidemic,  which  swept  over  the 
country,  the  Doctor  was  kept  very  busy.  In 
September  and  October  of  ’82  he  had  two  thou- 
sand patients ; in  November,  three  thousand  ; in 
December,  two  thousand  ; in  January,  ’83,  one 
thousand; — ten  thousand  in  five  months.* 

Changes  in  the  mission  had  been  constantly 
going  on  during  the  last  decade. 

Rev.  R.  D.  Frost,  R.  M.  Lawrence,  Miss 
Libby  and  Miss  French  went  out  in  ’74.  Mr. 

*This  fever  epidemic  — called  the  Burdwan  fever,  because  it  origi- 
nated in  that  place  — moved  southward  toward  the  coast  and  seemed  to 
pass  out  to  sea,  never  returning.  The  larger  part  of  the  population  in 
the  infested  districts  had  it. 


BACK  TO  THE  FIELD 


411 


Lawrence  returned  in  ’81,  the  other  three  in 
’76.  Miss  Cilley  returned  to  America  in  ’76. 
In  ’75  Dr.  and  Mrs.  J.  L.  Phillips  and  Miss 
Julia  returned  to  America ; they  went  back 
to  India  in  ’78.  In  ’77  Mrs.  D.  F.  Smith  came 
home  ; she  went  back  to  India  in  ’79,  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Woman’s  Society.  In  ’77  Miss 
Ida  O.  Phillips,  and  in  ’78  Rev.  T.  W.  Burk- 
holder, Miss  H.  P.  Phillips,  Miss  Frankie  Mil- 
lard, and  Miss  Jessie  Hooper  went  to  India.  Miss 
Millard  was  married  to  Mr.  Lawrence;  she  died 
in  ’81.  In  ’79  Rev.  Jeremiah  Phillips,  D.  D.,  and 
his  wife  came  to  America.  Dr.  Phillips  died  in 
December  of  that  year  and  Mrs.  Phillips  returned 
to  India  in  ’81.  Rev.  J.  M.  Coldren  sailed  for 
India  in  ’79;  he  married  Miss  Emma  Smith, 
who  reached  that  country  in  ’82.  Miss  Miller 
entered  upon  work  in  ’79.  In  ’81  Miss  Nellie 
M.  Phillips,  M.  D.,  sailed  with  her  mother  ; and 
Miss  Lavina  Coombs  arrived  on  the  mission 
field  in  January,  ’83.  On  account  of  severe 
illness  Mrs.  Burkholder  took  a voyage  to  Aus- 
tralia, accompanied  by  her  husband,  in  ’82. 

All  these  changes,  together  with  the  death  of 
Mr.  Smith  and  Miss  Crawford,  had  greatly 


412 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


affected  the  spirits  of  those  who  keenly  felt 
the  ebb  and  flow  of  mission  prosperity.  None 
felt  this  more  than  Dr.  Bacheler.  In  July  of 
’83,  on  account  of  much  needed  rest  and  change 
on  the  part  of  his  entire  family,  he  left  India 
for  America,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Bacheler  and 
Mary.  Their  plan  was  to  visit  Palestine  on 
their  way  home,  but  on  account  of  prevalent 
cholera  and  the  delays  of  quarantine  they  were 
obliged  to  give  this  up;  consequently  they 
reached  New  York  in  the  last  of  September, 
and  went  directly  to  their  New  Hampton  home, 
hoping  to  recuperate  sufficiently  to  serve  another 
term  in  “ dear  India.” 


CHAPTER  XV 

IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN  — TO  INDIA  THE 
FOURTH  TIME  — MRS.  BACHELER  GOES  BACK 
WITH  RE-ENFORCEMENTS  — THE  BIBLE 
SCHOOL— FIFTY  YEARS—  SEVENTY- 
FOURTH  BIRTHDAY —FAREWELL 
RECEPTION  — ONCE 
MORE  IN  CAMP 

MANY  years  with  constant  burdens  had  taken 
away  much  of  the  physical  endurance  of  our 
missionary,  but  for  counsel  he  was  wiser  than 
ever.  Indeed,  it  was  said  by  many  at  this 
time  that  if  he  were  not  able  to  get  about  very 
much,  it  would  be  profitable  to  keep  him 
in  India  during  the  remainder  of  his  natural 
life  for  the  sake  of  his  counsel  and  influence. 
The  Board  immediately  voted  an  allowance  for 
him  and  his  wife,  but  he  proposed  to  support 
himself  and  save  the  Society  that  expense.  He 
usually  attended  the  Board  meetings,  where 
his  counsel  was  very  helpful.  He  was  present 
at  public  meetings,  and  spoke  whenever  oppor- 
tunity was  granted  him.  With  Dr.  Cheney 


414 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


he  attended  a meeting  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  in 
an  endeavor  to  secure  the  cooperation  of 
“ The  Church  of  God  ” in  mission  work.  Dr. 
Cheney  spoke  of  him  then  as  a young  man 
in  feeling  and  hopes,  and  expressed  the  desire 
that  his  return  from  the  foreign  field  might 
prove  as  great  a blessing  to  all  the  churches  as 
it  had  been  to  him.  His  counsel  in  the  home- 
land at  that  time  was  greatly  needed.  More 
workers  were  necessary  for  India,  and  he  made 
most  earnest  appeals  for  men  and  money.  In 
response,  the  New  Hampshire  Yearly  Meeting 
pledged  one  thousand  dollars  for  re-enforce- 
ments.  The  Maine  Western  followed  by  renew- 
ing its  pledge  of  the  previous  year,  to  support 
a man  and  his  wife.  Vermont,  already  support- 
ing Mrs.  Smith  through  the  Woman’s  Society, 
pledged  to  support  a man  when  obtained.  New 
Brunswick  pledged  eight  hundred  dollars  annually 
for  the  support  of  a man  and  wife,  and  another 
pledge  of  similar  import  came  from  Wisconsin. 
It  may  be  well  to  notice  that  this  was  the 
approach  to  the  high-water  mark  in  re-enforce- 
ments and  amount  of  money  raised,  which  soon 
followed. 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


415 


Our  missionary  on  furlough  for  the  third  time 
had  much  to  do  in  helping  to  bring  this  about. 
He  heard  the  call  to  come  over  into  Nova 
Scotia,  which  he  had  visited  twenty-seven  years 
before.  He  was  heartily  received  there,  many 
people  going  twenty  miles  to  hear  him.  He 
spoke  at  a number  of  places,  and  especially  at 
the  Yarmouth  and  Shelburne  quarterly  meeting, 
which  convened  at  Plymouth,  where  resolutions 
were  passed,  thanking  him  for  his  presence 
and  the  blessing  which  he  brought,  and  also 
voting  to  support  a man  and  wife  in  India.  Here 
was  another  great  gain.  With  the  Board  he 
was  much  encouraged,  and  said  at  the  New 
Hampshire  Yearly  Meeting,  in  June,  ’85,  “God 
has  given  us  men  and  money  in  abundance  ; 
let  us  bring  them  into  service.” 

Mrs.  Bacheler  and  Mary  were  by  no  means 
idle.  In  the  fall  of  the  year  upon  which  they" 
arrived  they  began  to  go  out  among  the  churches, 
setting  forth  the  work,  the  needs,  and  making 
strong  appeals  for  missionaries  and  support. 

The  family  of  Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips,  already  in 
this  country,  needed  him  with  them,  and  being 
much  worn  down,  he  found  it  necessary  to  return 


416 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


to  America.  He  was  expected  to  arrive  at  about 
Christmas  time  ; this  would  weaken  the  already 
depleted  force,  and  present  a peculiar  need, 
inasmuch  as  he  was  principal  of  the  Bible  School, 
and  there  was  no  one  in  India  prepared  to  take 
up  the  work.  Dr.  Bacheler  was  designated  as 
the  man,  and  the  only  man,  available  for  it. 
He  was  elected  principal  pro  tempore,  and 
accepted  the  position. 

These  facts  were  placed  before  the  people 
by  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  and  the  funds 
necessary  for  his  return  passage  asked  for,  with 
the  statement  that  he  was  ready  to  start  as 
soon  as  the  means  were  provided.  This  appeal 
was  followed  by  another  from  Dr.  Phillips. 
Money  began  to  come  in,  and  when  there  was 
sufficient  to  pay  his  passage  he  started,  trusting 
the  people  to  provide  support. 

He  sailed  from  Boston  Saturday,  Jan.  23d,  ’86, 
on  the  Cunard  S.  S.  Catalonia,  Captain  McKay. 
He  went  because  he  was  needed  ; he  went  then 
because  he  was  needed  at  once ; he  went  alone 
because  there  was  no  one  ready  to  go  with  him. 
His  wife  wished  to  have  a little  more  time  in 
this  country,  especially  to  finish  the  “ Life  of 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


417 


Miss  Crawford,”  upon  which  she  was  then 
engaged.  Brave  man  that  he  was,  going  for 
the  fourth  time  to  the  far-away  people  whose 
souls  he  loved  better  than  life,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  ; he  was  sixty-nine  years  old  on  the 
17th  of  January,  1886. 

Dr.  Given,  the  Treasurer,  said  : “ Only  a 
veteran  could  have  hurried  himself  off  so  quickly 
and  so  secretly  as  the  Doctor  has  done.  His 
desire  was  to  get  away  quietly,  as  though  it 
were  an  every-day  affair.  Very  few  knew 
that  he  was  to  sail  on  Saturday,  the  23d  inst.” 

Said  Dr.  Phillips  : “ Does  not  the  fact  that 
this  old  man,  leaving  a comfortable  home  to 
have  ‘ one  more  pull  ’ in  the  field  he  knows  well, 
show  that  the  work  is  a satisfactory  one  ?” 

All  the  way  the  journey  was  pleasant  with 
the  exception  of  a sand-storm  of  thirty  hours 
in  “the  Bitter  Lakes.”  He  made  his  long 
desired  visit  to  Palestine,  reached  Midnapore 
April  5th,  at  2.30  P.  M.,  and  enjoyed  communion 
in  the  chapel  with  the  native  Christians  at  4 
o’clock.  Grateful  to  God  for  his  care,  grateful 
to  the  people  for  their  prayers,  he  received  a 
hearty  oriental  welcome,  and  after  speaking  of 
all  these  things,  he  says,  “ Now  for  work.” 


418 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Very  soon  Mrs.  Bacheler  began  arrangements 
for  returning  to  India  also.  Mary  had  decided 
to  remain  and  complete  her  medical  course  in 
New  York.  But  there  was  a large  number  to 
accompany  the  returning  missionary.  The  party 
consisted  of  Mrs.  O.  R.  Bacheler,  Dr.  H.  M. 
Bacheler,*  his  wife  and  two  children  (Otis  and 
Laura),  Miss  E.  M.  Butts,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  A.  B. 
Boyer,  and  Miss  Jessie  Hooper,  the  last  three 
coming  from  New  Brunswick  — a splendid  rein- 
forcement indeed.  A farewell  reception  was  ten- 
dered in  the  Shawmut  Avenue  Free  Baptist  church, 
Boston,  on  the  evening  of  October  13th,  when 
a large  company  of  people  met  them  with  kind 
words  and  promises  to  follow  them  with  prayers. 
They  sailed  on  the  next  day,  the  fourteenth, 
on  the  Catalonia,  for  Liverpool,  where  they 
reshipped  for  India. 

The  journey  was  a pleasant  one  aside  from 
seasickness,  which  always  troubled  some  of 
the  party  when  it  was  rough.  Daily  devotions 
together  were  enjoyed,  and  a study  in  Bengali 
was  conducted  by  Mrs.  Bacheler  for  those  who 
would  take  it.  The  City  of  London,  which  they 


Dr.  Harry  and  his  wife  had  previously  been  missionaries  in  Africa. 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


419 


took  in  Liverpool,  took  them  to  Calcutta  in  one 
month,  — a very  different  voyage  from  the  first 
which  Mrs.  Bacheler  made  to  India,  in  1846, 
when  she  endured  the  hardship  of  the  ocean  in 
a sailing  ship,  for  five  and  one-half  months. 

Dr.  Harry  M.  Bacheler  was  an  excellent  cor- 
netist.  He  procured  a cornet  in  Liverpool  for 
his  use  in  the  mission,  and  it  was  a great  help 
especially  in  the  Bazaar.  It  never  failed  to 
gather  an  audience,  and  sometimes  a large  com- 
pany would  assemble  before  the  appointed  time 
for  the  preachers  to  come,  and  there  they  would 
wait  for  the  cornet  music,  which  they  greatly 
enjoyed. 

The  Boyers  and  Miss  Hooper  went  to  Bal- 
asore.  Mr.  Boyer  died  with  fever  June  8th, 
1891,  but  not  until  he  had  made  a deep  impression 
in  the  mission  through  his  godly  life  and  spirit- 
ual, scholarly  work  — a choice  man,  a precious 
man  of  God.  Mrs.  Boyer  was  also  a choice 
character,  and  struggled  to  carry  on  her  hus- 
band’s work  in  several  departments,  for  some 
years  after  his  departure. 

From  the  beginning  the  mission  engaged 
largely  in  educational  work,  but  on  an  econom- 


420 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


ical  scale.  When  Dr.  Bacheler  took  charge  of 
the  Balasore  station  he  found  a boarding-school 
of  sixty  boys  and  girls,  nearly  equal  in  number. 
These  were  orphans  gathered  in  times  of  famine. 
They  were  fed,  clothed,  and  kept  in  school 
daily,  supported  in  part  by  the  Mission  Society, 
and  in  part  by  Government  grants  and  donations 
in  India,  at  a cost  of  about  eighty  cents  apiece 
per  month.  In  1848-9  eighty  boys  and  girls 
came  to  the  mission ; they  had  been  rescued 
from  human  sacrifice  in  Southern  Orissa  among 
the  Goomser  Mountains,  by  the  English  Govern- 
ment. An  allowance  of  one  dollar  and  twenty- 
five  cents  per  month  for  their  support  and 
education  was  made  by  the  Government.  This 
was  considerably  above  the  actual  cost  of  their 
living,  and  the  allowance  enabled  Dr.  Bacheler 
to  start  a Normal  labor  department  to  give  the 
boys  a mechanical  training.  Shops  were  erected 
and  boys  were  set  to  learn  trades,  some  to 
become  carpenters,  some  blacksmiths,  and  some 
masons.  This  department  was  in  successful 
operation  when  the  Doctor  left  for  America  in 
1851,  and  for  several  years  afterwards. 

It  resulted  in  a financial  profit  to  the  mission, 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


421 


and  aided  in  the  support  of  other  departments 
of  work.  Every  season  of  famine  replenished 
the  orphanages,  and  most  of  the  orphans 
were  supported  by  the  government.  Only  in 
seasons  of  famine  could  children  be  obtained  for 
the  orphanages  because  of  the  prejudice  of  the 
natives  toward  Christians.  A large  proportion 
of  the  active  members  of  the  churches,  both 
men  and  women,  have  been  trained  in  the  board- 
ing schools. 

Another  department  of  the  Mission  educa- 
tional work  has  been  the  support  of  village  day 
schools.  At  first  and  for  years  these  were  held 
under  large  shady  trees  ; thus  elementary  edu- 
cation was  given  to  the  poor,  at  a trifling 
expense.  At  first  the  teachers  received  one 
dollar  per  month,  but  the  cost  gradually  in- 
creased, until  now  the  expense  is  nearly  two 
dollars  per  month.  While  this  has  not  been 
the  most  encouraging  part  of  the  work,  a knowl- 
edge to  read  and  write  has  been  given  to  many 
who  otherwise  never  would  have  learned. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  mission  it 
was  found  necessary  to  pay  particular  attention 
to  the  education  of  such  converts  as  showed 


422 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


any  ability  for  evangelistic  work.  During  the 
hot  seasons,  when  little  could  be  done  away 
from  home,  the  plan  was  to  form  a class  of  the 
preachers  and  candidates  for  Bible  study  during 
the  hot  hours  of  the  day,  and  this  was  continued 
for  five  or  six  months.  Thus  each  missionary 
was  the  teacher  of  his  class.  In  course  of  time, 
as  the  number  of  the  students  increased,  it  was 
thought  best  to  gather  all  into  one  school,  and 
give  them  far  greater  advantages  than  they 
had  hitherto  enjoyed.  This  was  the  origin  of 
the  Bible  School. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips  was  very  busy  when  in 
America,  1 87 5— ’78.  Rev.  C.  O.  Libby  being 

obliged  to  resign  as  corresponding  secretary  on 
account  of  failing  health,*  Dr.  Phillips  was 
elected  his  successor,  and  held  the  office  until 
he  returned  to  India. t 

Together  with  the  work  of  corresponding  sec- 
retary Dr.  Phillips  raised  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  to  endow  a Bible  school  in  Midnapore. 

*Mr.  Libby  died  Dec.  ai,  1876. 

t Rev.  Charles  S.  Perkins  succeeded  Dr.  Phillips  and  held  the  office 
six  years,  1878-1884.  Mr.  Perkins  resigned  in  '84,  when  Rev.  Thomas 
H.  Stacy  was  elected  secretary;  he  served  twelve  years,  and  until  the 
Society  was  disbanded  and  the  work  put  into  the  hands  of  Conference 
Board. 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


423 


It  was  named  the  “ Midnapore  Bible  School.” 
Dr.  Phillips  was  its  founder  and  first  principal, 
having  charge  from  the  time  of  its  opening — 
May  i,  1879  — until  he  returned  to  America  in 
1885.  Dr.  Bacheler’s  hurried  return  to  India 
in  ’86  was  especially  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
ducting the  work  of  this  school.  At  first  he 
was  elected  principal  pro  tempore,  but  he  remained 
in  charge  during  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
India,  seven  years* ; and  he  regarded  it  as  the 
most  interesting  work  of  his  life.  It  has  had 
as  many  as  twenty  young  men  at  one  time. 
The  school  year  usually  runs  from  March  to 
November,  so  as  to  allow  all  the  cold  season 
for  itinerant  work.  The  course  is  four  years 
and  embraces  a study  of  the  entire  Bible,  with 
English,  Sanscrit,  and  general  literature.  The 
students  are  supported  on  the  interest  of  the 
endowment,  devoting  their  entire  time  to  study 
and  evangelistic  work.  They  have  seven 
hours  daily  in  the  school,  and  from  one  to  two 
hours  every  evening  in  the  Bazaar,  where  they 
join  in  preaching,  singing,  and  personal  work  as 

* When  Dr.  Phillips  returned  to  India  it  was  as  superintendent  of 
Sunday  schools  for  all  India;  he  was  no  longer  particularly  identified 
with  the  Free  Baptist  mission. 


424 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


they  are  able.  Dr.  Bacheler’s  work,  together 
with  general  oversight  of  the  school,  was  in 
Bible  exposition,  Sanscrit,  English,  and  general 
exercises. 

During  his  term  of  service  there,  he  was 
assisted  by  Dr.  Burkholder,  Rev.  M.  C.  Miner, 
Rev.  E.  B.  Stiles,  Samuel  Das,  and  others.  In 
1880  a woman’s  department  was  added,  under 
the  superintendence  of  Miss  Hattie  Phillips,  for 
the  training  of  zenana  teachers,  Bible  women, 
etc.  In  this  department  Mrs.  J.  L.  Phillips, 
Miss  Coombs,  and  others  assisted.  In  1887  Miss 
E.  M.  Butts  became  its  efficient  principal. 

For  many  years  the  Bible  School  has  been 
the  place  for  the  training  of  the  native  workers 
in  the  mission.  Nearly  every  preacher  and 
several  of  the  best  teachers  at  the  present  time 
are  graduates  from  it;  and  the  churches  are 
well  supplied  with  acceptable  native  preachers. 
Rev.  H.  E.  Wyman  was  principal  until  his  re- 
turn to  America  in  1903. 

Although  the  Bible  School  was  Dr.  Bacheler’s 
special  charge  during  his  last  term  in  India,  he 
retained  his  former  interest  in  other  matters ; 
still  he  looked  after  the  station  ; again  he  was 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


425 


the  recognized  pa- 
triarch of  the  mis- 
sion at  Midnapore, 
looked  to  by  all  in 
the  m i ss  i o n for 
counsel  and  direc- 
tion ; again  he  had 
an  oversight  of 
schools ; again  he 
was  at  the  head  of 
the  medical  dispen- 
sary ; and  again  he 
sounded  the  bugle 
call,  marshalled  his 
forces,  and  directed 
the  preachers  and 
students  at  the  dif- 
ferent preaching 
stations  in  the  city 
streets. 

“School  Bazaar” 
was  his  favorite 
spot.  Here  where 
several  streets  con- 
verged, under  a 


SACHIDANANDA  RAI 


426 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


large  tree,  he  had  a brick  platform  constructed, 
six  by  twelve  feet,  and  two  feet  in  height.  In 
the  centre  was  a brick  wall  around  the  tree  for 
a seat.  Here,  near  the  sunset  hour,  he  usually 
came  with  his  helpers,  for  over  thirty  years, 
when  at  home.  Sachidananda  Rai,  now  a famous 
evangelist  in  the  Midnapore  district,  a gradu- 
ate of  the  Bible  School,  early  showed  remark- 
able ability  as  a preacher,  and  was  often  with 
him  in  the  Bazaar.  In  the  meantime,  cares 
multiplied,  duties  increased.  In  1888,  a call  for 
retrenchments  by  the  home  Board  brought  out 
a very  discreet  and  telling  protest  from  Dr. 
Bacheler,  with  a plea  for  pastors  to  present  mis- 
sion facts  to  their  congregations.  Mrs.  Bacheler 
found  it  more  difficult  to  submit  to  the  call  for 
retrenchment,  and  to  excuse  the  apparent  in- 
difference of  the  home  churches. 

Retaining  her  youthful  passion  for  teaching, 
she  gathered  up  a school  of  seventy  children, 
turned  the  veranda  into  a schoolhouse  for  want 
of  a better  place,  and,  while  she  had  assistants, 
taught  herself  two  classes  in  English,  and  one  in 
Bengali,  besides  instructing  the  children  of  Dr. 
H.  M.  Bacheler. 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


427 


In  1890,  Deacon  Rufus  Deering,  of  Portland, 
Me.,  manifested  an  interest  in  having  a building 
for  the  “Midnapore  Bible  School.”  Dr.  Bach- 
eler  answered  his  questions  so  well,  and  so 


BIBLE  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  MIDNAPORE 


clearly  demonstrated  the  fact  that  a building 
was  very  necessary,  that  Deacon  Deering  gave 
something  over  $2,000  for  it.  When  completed, 
it  will  cost  $5,000.*  The  beautiful  building  was 
greatly  needed  ; it  is  highly  appreciated,  and  is  a 
fitting  monument  to  the  memory  of  a noble  man. 

*The  Bible  School  was  started  in  Dr.  Phillips’s  bungalow.  Then  it 
moved  to  the  Santali  Training  School  bungalow,  built  by  Dr.  Bacheler 
in  the  ’7o’s. 


428 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


It  was  also  in  1890,  Sept.  12th,  that  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  Dr.  Bacheler’s  coming  to  India  was 
celebrated.  The  Midnapore  quarterly  meeting 
convened  in  Midnapore  at  the  time,  and  a num- 
ber of  the  missionaries  were  present.  They 
all  gathered  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Miner’s  bungalow 
for  dinner,  after  which  came  a prayer  meeting, 
a time  of  general  thanksgiving  for  this  faithful 
missionary  and  his  work,  with  requests  for  God’s 
continued  blessing.  During  the  evening  Mr. 
Miner,  in  behalf  of  the  company,  presented  him 
with  a chair  upon  which  was  hung  a card  with 
the  dates  “ 1840-1890.” 

The  Doctor  was  surprised,  but  expressed  his 
appreciation  in  well-chosen  words.  Then  he 
was  at  the  head  of  the  Bible  School,  and  teaching 
in  it  four  classes  a day,  having  general  charge 
of  the  station  and  some  outside  churches,  super- 
intending the  press,  at  the  head  of  the  medical 
dispensary,  looking  after  the  Bazaar  work, 
besides  being  sought  as  counselor  and  arbiter  in 
every-day  questions.* 

* During  the  dav  letters  came  from  missionaries  who  could  not  be 
present,  and  the  Orissa  quarterly  meeting,  consened  at  Bhadrak. 
telegraphed  congratulations,  and  Leviticus  25:  12  as  the  Bible  text  for 
the  occasion. 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


429 


In  the  January  following,  on  the  day  the 
Doctor  celebrated  his  seventy-fourth  birthday, 
the  yearly  meeting  was  then  in  session  at  Mid- 
napore.  It  was  the  privilege  of  the  writer  to 
be  present.  All  gathered  at  the  Doctor’s  for 
the  evening.  After  reading  the  twenty-seventh 
Psalm;  singing  “We’ve  Sighted  the  Golden 
Gate,’’  and  “ I Will  Sing  the  Wondrous  Story  ’’ ; 
after  a very  sweet  season  of  prayer,  and  after 
most  helpful  words  from  him,  we  were  all  chil- 
dren for  a while,  and  played  “ Blind-man’s-buff.” 
Little  children  were  there,  but  none  seemed 
younger,  happier,  or  sweeter  than  this,  our 
veteran  missionary. 

On  November  26th,  1890,  Dr.  H.  M.  Bacheler 
died  very  suddenly  at  Balasore,  the  place  of 
his  birth.  He  had  been  located  at  Jellasore 
for  some  time,  and  was  at  Balasore  to  purchase 
provisions.  This  was  a great  shock  to  the 
family  and  to  all  the  mission.  It  was  also  a 
loss,  for  he  had  gained  a place  of  confidence  and 
respect  among  the  people.  Two  children,  Willie 
and  Mary  Ella,  had  been  born  into  the  home  in 
India,  and  in  the  spring  of  ’91  his  widow  with 
her  four  fatherless  ones  returned  to  America. 


CHRISTIAN  VILLAGE  SCHOOLHOUSE,  MIDNAPORE 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


431 


In  1890,  the  daughter,  Mary  W.  Bacheler, 
M.  D.,  returned  to  India  ; this,  of  course,  brought 
great  joy  to  all  the  mission,  and  especially  to  the 
hearts  of  the  father  and  mother.  She  was  sup- 
ported by  the  Woman’s  Society. 

There  were  conversions  each  year,  and  let- 
ters of  cheer  and  thankfulness  for  the  privilege 
of  working  came  from  these  veterans,  Dr. 
Bacheler  taking  the  lead  in  the  plan  to  estab- 
lish a new  mission  at  Contai,  going  there 
and  holding  meetings,  assisting  Mr.  Brown  in 
personal  work  there,  counseling  with  Mr.  Griffin 
and  Mr.  Ager  concerning  buildings  ; also  with 
Mr.  Hallam  about  the  work,  with  whom  he 
always  sustained  the  tenderest  and  most  fra- 
ternal relations. 

But  the  Doctor’s  health  was  becoming  delicate. 
In  1892,  and  in  the  last  part  of  that  year  he 
decided  that  he  must  lay  down  his  responsibility 
in  the  field  again,  and  return  to  his  native  land. 
This  brought  sadness  to  the  mission,  but  all 
saw  that  it  was  best. 

In  view  of  this  fact  there  were  two  last 
things  of  special  interest  among  the  closing 
scenes  of  our  veteran  workers’  lives  in  India. 


432 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


One  was  a “good-bye  meeting”  held  in  Midna- 
pore  in  November.  It  was  some  months  before 
the  departure  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler,  but  it 
occurred  then,  as  most  of  the  missionaries  were 
in  to  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and  perhaps  it  could 
be  better  endured  than  at  a time  nearer  the 
departure ; besides,  it  could  be  made  more  easy 
and  cheerful  for  all  then. 

It  occurred  in  connection  with  the  Yearly 
Meeting  which  began  November  13th.  The 
guests  came  early,  and  on  Saturday  evening, 
Nov.  1 2th,  a surprise  party  gathered  in  the 
sitting-room  of  the  Bacheler  bungalow.  Mrs. 
Bacheler  felt  that  the  whisperings  and  signs 
observed  during  the  day  indicated  that  something 
was  going  to  happen,  although  nobody  divulged 
the  secret. 

After  the  evening  meeting,  everybody  seemed 
to  go  that  way,  as  if  by  appointment,  talking 
and  smiling,  and  making  themselves  at  home. 
When  all  were  seated,  Mrs.  Burkholder,  Mrs. 
Miner,  and  Mrs.  Ager  served  a lunch  ; then  Mr. 
Hallam  was  appointed  chairman. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Phillips  was  called  upon,  and  spoke 
most  happily  and  tenderly  of  his  first  remem- 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


433 


brance  of  and  lifelong  acquaintance  with  Dr. 
Bacheler,  who  was  so  soon  to  leave  for  the 
home  land. 

In  responding,  Dr.  Bacheler  said  that  his 
acquaintance  with  Dr.  Phillips  began  when  he 
was  a little  fellow,  in  the  arms  of  his  nurse, 
just  beginning  to  put  words  together,  and  con- 
tinually saying,  as  he  tried  to  talk,  “ Ya  kee  ?” 
— “ What  is  this  ?”  And  then  he  spoke  of  the 
lifelong  friendship  between  the  two  families. 

Mrs.  Coldren  recalled  his  journey  with  Dr. 
Bacheler  from  Calcutta  to  Midnapore,  when  he 
came  to  India.  Mrs.  H.  C.  Phillips  recounted 
that  dismal  journey  from  Calcutta  to  Balasore 
in  1840,  as  it  had  left  a lasting  impression  upon 
her  mind.  The  vein  was  mostly  in  reminiscence. 
Somehow,  the  pervading  spirit  was  of  days  that 
were  gone  and  work  that  was  done ; while  with 
it  all  was  a spirit  of  gratitude  and  hopefulness. 
The  occasion  closed  with  many  fervent  prayers, 
and  the  friends  departed  with  the  feeling  that 
the  public  work  of  two  of  God’s  noble  ones  was 
drawing  to  a close. 

The  other  event  of  notable  importance  was 
Dr.  Bacheler’s  last  cold  season,  with  its  endeavor 


434 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


in  India.  We  give  his  diary  of  the  time  passed 
in  that  work,  that  we  may  catch  his  view  of 
things  in  those  last  days,  compare  it  with  his 
view  in  early  days,  and  that  we  may  get  his 
recall  of  former  experiences  in  his  own  setting. 
He  says : — 

“ From  Nov.  24th,  I am  able  to  take  the  field 
for  evangelistic  work  in  the  district.  My  work- 
ing party  is  taken  from  the  Bible  School,  and 
consists  of  two  teachers  and  three  students. 
Our  first  point  is  Dantoon,  thirty-six  miles  south 
of  Midnapore ; a place  where  much  faithful 
preaching  has  been  done  during  the  last  fifty 
years. 

“ On  our  way  we  passed  through  the  famine- 
stricken  district,  a tract  forty  miles  by  twenty, 
over  which  the  early  and  latter  rain  did  not 
fall  in  sufficient  quantities  to  insure  a minimum 
crop  of  rice.  Some  fields  may  produce  enough 
for  seed  ; in  others,  the  stock,  one  half  grown, 
has  no  kernel  and  very  much  has  been  given 
up  for  grazing. 

“ The  cultivators  may  be  divided  into  three 
classes,  namely,  the  well-to-do,  who  are  able 
to  cultivate  several  acres  ; the  poorer  class,  who 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


435 


can  manage  one  or  two  acres ; and  the  still 
poorer,  who  have  nothing  of  their  own,  but  live 
by  daily  labor ; usually  receiving  their  pay  in 
rice  when  their  day’s  work  is  done.  Now  the 
crop  having  failed,  the  cultivators  require  little 
or  no  help  in  harvesting,  and  so  thousands  of 
laborers  are  left  without  work,  and  as  they  have 
no  money,  they  are  without  rice.  The  Govern- 
ment is  doing  something,  by  constructing  roads 
and  digging  tanks,  to  afford  labor  for  the  able- 
bodied,  and  private  charity  will  help  largely; 
still  the  suffering  must  be  very  great ; distress 
and  starvation  must  come  to  many. 

“ Our  party  remained  nine  days  at  Dantoon 
and  vicinity.  We  preached  at  eleven  different 
places,  attended  two  meelas,  or  markets,  and 
each  of  the  four  in  our  party  had  an  opportunity 
to  speak  twenty-two  times.  While  they  were 
thus  occupied  1 went  to  visit  the  churches  at 
Jellasore  and  Santipore,  the  former  twelve  miles 
and  the  latter  seven  miles  distant.  Since  Bro. 
Brown  left  they  have  been  rather  unsettled, 
and  I was  anxious  that  the  new  work  which 
he  had  organized  should  be  kept  up.  Jacob 
Mishra,  one  of  our  oldest  and  most  reliable 


436 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


preachers,  has  been  appointed  to  the  pastorate, 
and  we  hope  he  will  efficiently  carry  on  the 
work.  He  will  have  the  oversight  of  the  central 
stations  under  Bro.  Ager,  who  will  soon  locate 
at  Santipore. 

“ Mohonpore  was  our  next  station,  twenty 
miles  east  and  in  the  midst  of  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  famine-stricken  district.  This  calls 
up  some  interesting  reminiscences.  Fifty-two 
years  ago  next  month  Bro.  Phillips  and  I had 
been  wandering  for  a month  among  the  villages 
near  the  seaboard.  The  morning  we  started 
for  home  we  were  off  early  in  order  to  visit  a 
market  during  the  day.  Our  ponies  were  fresh 
and  we  were  clipping  over  the  fields  most  joy- 
fully when  suddenly  1 was  struck  with  a chill. 
It  shook  me  from  head  to  foot  as  though  covered 
with  ice.  1 was  thoroughly  miserable,  intense 
cold  and  intense  heat  both  struggling  in  vain 
for  the  mastery.  1 can  hardly  conceive  of  any- 
thing more  wretched  than  an  ague  chill.  1 
could  hardly  keep  in  the  saddle.  1 said  nothing, 
but  lagged  behind.  Coming  to  a hole  in  the 
ground  I slipped  from  the  saddle  and  coiled 
myself  up  out  of  sight.  My  pony  stood  waiting 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


437 


and  so  revealed  my  whereabouts.  I was  soon 
missed  and  some  of  the  party  came  back  to 
look  me  up.  I had  to  leave  my  hiding-place 
and  try  the  saddle  again.  We  reached  the 
market-place  and  a cot  was  provided  for  me 
beneath  a tree.  The  people  gathered  about  for 
the  market,  first  in  tens,  then  in  hundreds.  The 
market  went  on  buying  and  selling  all  around 
me,  each  one  striving  to  make  himself  heard — 
a raging  medley  of  human  voices.  But  I was 
too  miserable  to  care  for  noise.  The  cold  stage 
soon  passed  off  and  the  hot  stage  followed — 
burning  fever.  Heat  had  conquered,  but  it  had 
lost  its  power  in  the  fierce  struggle,  and  soon 
gave  way  to  the  sweating  stage.  The  turmoil 
of  human  voices  soon  subsided  and  then,  the 
market  over,  all  was  quiet.  Soon  came  the 
welcome  sound,  “Dinner  is  ready,’’  and  1 was 
ready,  too.  1 ate  one  half  a chicken  with  ac- 
companiments, and  was  well. 

“ March  2d.  We  cantered  some  eight  or  ten 
miles  over  the  fields  to  the  house  of  a friendly 
Englishman,  where  we  spent  the  night.  1 asked 
for  a bowl  of  gruel  for  my  supper,  which  1 took 
with  a spoonful  of  castor  oil;  next  morning  a 


438 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


ride  of  fifteen  miles  brought  us  home  to  Jella- 
sore,  and  that  was  the  last  of  my  Indian  fever. 
How  wonderfully  1 have  been  blest ! Most  of 
my  associates  have  had  it  many  times  and  some 
have  finished  their  course  with  it;  while  1 have 
been  exempt  for  almost  fifty-two  years  ! And 
here  we  are  again  to  preach  to  the  grandchildren 
and  great-grandchildren  of  those  whom  we  may 
have  met  on  our  first  visit.  But  my  compan- 
ions of  that  visit  have  all  passed  away  long, 
long  ago,  while  1 remain  far  behind,  bringing 
up  the  rear. 

“ We  remained  here  four  days,  with  good 
work  night  and  morning.  We  had  five  preach- 
ing places,  two  markets,  and  in  all  eight  con- 
gregations. The  principal  man  here,  who  is 
called  a rajah,  gave  me  a new  idea.  1 was 
saying  that  all  the  gods  of  the  Hindus  are  rep- 
resented as  wicked  and  had  to  be  punished  for 
their  crimes.  * Very  true,’  said  he,  ‘ but  that 
is  given  for  our  warning ; for  if  the  gods  could 
not  escape  punishment,  what  will  become  of  us 
poor  wretches?’ 

“ Dec.  9th.  We  next  moved  to  Contai.  Dear 
old  Contai ! scene  of  much  toil  ! We  have  been 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


439 


pleading  for  Contai  for  more  than  thirty  years. 
During  my  residence  at  Midnapore,  I have 
regarded  it  as  our  most  important  outpost,  and 
I have  spent  nearly  five  months  therein  as  many 
as  six  or  more  times.  Now  we  come  to  start  a 
mission  in  earnest.  Brother  Hallam  has  been 
appointed  its  first  missionary,  and  is  now  on 
the  spot,  and  with  Brothers  Griffin  and  Ager 
is  arranging  to  put  up  the  necessary  buildings 
at  once. 

“ Our  party  of  five,  with  three  others  who 
are  appointed  to  live  here,  make  up  a strong 
company  as  we  go  out  to  preach  in  the  Bazaar. 
There  are  six  weekly  markets  within  convenient 
reach,  and  a good  gathering  in  the  Bazaar  daily  ; 
so  we  may  regard  this  as  one  of  our  best  preach- 
ing stations.  The  people  of  the  district  have 
the  reputation  of  being  very  wicked,  and  they 
are  quite  ready  to  acknowledge  it. 

“There  are  six  courts  in  constant  session 
•throughout  the  year,  and  then  all  appeal  cases 
and  cases  requiring  more  than  fifteen  days’  pun- 
ishment must  go  to  Midnapore.  Within  a week 
while  1 was  there,  there  were  three  murders,  and 
as  the  corpses  were  being  brought  through  the 


440 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


streets,  none  seemed  to  care  or  notice.  Surely 
Christian  work  is  needed  in  this  Godless  region. 

“If  I felt  sure  that  this  paper  would  escape 
the  editor’s  waste-basket,  1 would  do  my  best 
to  put  in  an  earnest  plea  for  Contai.  As  it  is, 
1 will  just  say  that  it  looks  like  one  of  our  most 
important  stations,  with  a population  of  nearly 
500,000,  very  wicked  and  freely  owning  that 
they  are  so;  very  ignorant, 'yet  willing  to  learn. 
What  more  could  we  ask  in  a field  for  earnest 
Christian  labor?  Brother  Hallam  is  on  the  spot, 
with  four  earnest  native  preachers  — a strong 
party,  and  well  equipped  for  the  work.  Let 
the  money  be  forthcoming  at  once,  to  give 
shelter  to  those  workers. 

“ The  road  from  Contai  to  Midnapore  is  sixty- 
two  miles,  thoroughly  macadamized.  The  mate- 
rial used  is  gravel,  carted  many  miles,  or  brick 
burned  on  the  spot,  and  then  broken  and  pounded 
into  a solid  road-bed.  As  1 was  driving  quietly 
along,  a portion  of  the  road  called  up  most  vivid 
recollections  of  the  olden  time  when  good  roads 
were  scarce.  We  had  been  camping  on  this  road 
for  some  weeks. 

“One  afternoon  1 rode  down  ten  miles  to  visit 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


441 


a friend.  When  I left  his  camp  to  return  to  my 
own,  it  was  nearly  dark,  and  1 just  then  noticed 
a heavy  cloud  rising  in  the  northwest.  1 had 
gone  scarcely  a mile  when  the  storm  burst  upon 
me.  The  rain  poured,  the  lightning  flashed  and 
crashed,  and  the  thunder  bellowed  through  the 
firmament.  The  first  dash  of  rain  changed  the 
dusty  road  to  slippery  clay,  so  that  my  pony 
could  only  creep  along,  slipping  and  sliding  as  on 
glare  ice.  Well,  1 was  in  for  a hard  time, 
surely.  Nothing  could  be  seen  but  by  the 
flashing  of  the  lightning. 

“ Several  miles  on  my  way  there  was  a village 
where  we  had  camped  some  time  before,  and 
had  made  warm  friends  of  one  prominent  family. 
1 hoped  to  reach  that  village,  and  took  courage. 
We  jogged  on  through  the  weary  hours,  with 
the  lightning  for  our  only  guide.  By  its  broad 
glare  1 at  length  discovered  the  path  from  the 
main  road,  but  the  water  was  standing  ankle- 
deep  throughout  the  village.  1 had  heard  voices 
and  seen  a light,  so  I shouted  ; but  instantly 
the  lights  were  all  out,  and  all  was  still.  All  my 
shouting  proved  in  vain,  so  1 had  to  fall  back 
on  my  old  friend  the  lightning,  and',  by  its  broad 


442 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


flashes,  waded  on  till  1 came  to  the  house  which 
1 knew.  All  were  asleep,  so  1 kept  on  shouting. 
With  some  difficulty  my  old  acquaintance  was 
aroused,  and,  recognizing  my  voice,  came  to 
the  rescue. 

“ How  the  scene  changed  — from  darkness  and 
mud  and  weariness  to  the  cheering  warmth  of 
manly  hospitality  ! He  took  me  to  a hut  of  his, 
which  was  occupied  by  the  very  men  who  had 
put  out  their  light  and  refused  to  hear  me  ; 
turned  them  and  their  cattle  out,  and  made  room 
for  me  and  my  pony.  He  then  brought  wood 
and  kindled  a fire,  by  which  we  sat  and  dried 
ourselves.  When  he  had  thus  made  me  com- 
fortable, 1 urged  him  to  go  back  to  bed  ; but  no, 
he  would  not  leave  me,  but  kept  bringing  wood 
and  keeping  up  the  fire  until  daylight,  and  the 
warm  sun  left  no  further  help  necessary.  And 
then  when  I offered  to  pay  him  for  all  his  trouble, 
no ; he  had  not  served  me  for  pay,  but  for  love 
of  humanity. 

“ In  the  light  of  that  act,  1 went  on  my  way, 
and  have  often  thought  that  the  experience  of 
that  dismal  night  was  amply  rewarded  by  this 
bright  spot  in  the  darkness  of  heathenism.  We 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


443 


had  hoped  that  this  man  would  join  the  Chris- 
tians, but  he  died  years  ago  while  nominally 
a heathen.  He  has  gone  to  the  good  Father  who 
is  just,  and  as  merciful  as  he  can  be  consistently 
with  his  justice. 

“ One  entry  more  will  suffice  for  this  article. 
Our  camp  has  been  pitched  at  a village  of  two 
thousand  inhabitants.  Sachi,  our  best  preacher, 
joined  us  here.  I had  been  mourning  our  lack 
of  talkers.  He  supplies  that  lack.  He  is  not 
only  a very  eloquent  preacher,  but  a most  pro- 
lific talker  also.  Our  tents  were  thronged  so 
much  that  our  five  preachers  were  fully  employed 
till  their  throats  began  to  fail.  We  were  treated 
with  the  greatest  kindness  and  hospitality,  and 
our  message  was  listened  to  with  earnest  atten- 
tion. Many  are  intellectually  convinced,  but 
the  heart  is  not  moved. 

“ I noticed  three  very  fine  temples,  nearly 
two  hundred  years  old,  built  of  stone  in  the 
most  finished  style,  but  now  neglected  and  going 
to  ruin,  with  trees  starting  from  their  cracks  and 
seams.  So  I called  several  of  the  leading  men 
and  said  to  them,  ‘ 1 want  you  to  be  very  careful 
of  these  temples,  and  don’t  allow  the  trees  to 


444 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


grow  and  destroy  them,  for  the  time  is  coming 
when  every  stone  will  be  needed  for  Christian 
chapels.  Now  remember  what  I say.’  At  which 
they  smiled  and  said  nothing. 

“From  this  we  go  to  attend  the  great  meela 
at  Khandarai,  at  the  earnest  invitation  of  the 
rajah  there,  with  whom  1 have  long  been 
intimate.  In  response  to  his  invitation  1 told 
him  that  we  could  only  go  on  one  condition  : 
that  as  his  territories  are  in  the  midst  of  the 
famine-stricken  district,  and  many  of  his  people 
are  suffering,  he  must  forego  his  hospitality,  and 
let  us  feed  ourselves.  He  consented,  but  still 
urged  that  it  would  give  him  great  pleasure 
to  entertain  us.  Last  year  he  fed  our  entire 
party,  even  to  the  pony  and  dog,  for  ten  days. 
So  we  go  again  with  six  preachers,  hoping  to 
do  a good  work  for  our  blessed  Master.” 

From  a letter  written  subsequently  by  Mr. 
Hallam,  who  also  went  at  this  time  to  Khandarai, 
we  learn  that  they  received  a cordial  welcome 
from  the  rajah,  and  that  the  work  done  was 
good. 

As  we  live  over  again  with  our  beloved  mis- 
sionary this  part  of  his  India  life  — this  last  cold 


IN  THE  HOME  FIELD  AGAIN 


445 


season  tour  — and  return  with  him  in  recollection 
to  his  first  days  in  that  land,  knowing  now,  as 
he  did  not  know  then,  that  it  was  his  last  view 
of  dear  and  familiar  scenes,  his  last  hand-grasp 
with  cherished  friends,  his  last  faithful  message 
to  those  for  whom  he  had  labored  for  more  than 
half  a century,  we  feel  that  God  gave  him  this 
opportunity  as  a special  token  of  His  love  for 
him,  permitting  him  to  finish  his  long  and  most- 
praiseworthy  service  in  much  the  same  way  as 
he  began  it. 

In  those  last  days  he  threw  back  over  all  the 
preceding  years  sweet  memory,  bound  them  all 
together  with  cords  of  love,  and  laid  them  upon 
God’s  sacred -altar,  and  seemed  to  say  : “I  have 
done  it  all  for  Thee  ; do  all  with  it  thou  canst.  I 
know  that  1 have  been  an  unprofitable  servant, 
but  Thou  art  merciful  to  the  sower,  and  the  seed 
Thou  wilt  water  and  make  fruitful.” 


CHAPTER  XVI 


BACK  IN  AMERICA— LAST  DAYS  — THE  PASSING- 
FUNERAL  SERVICES— SOME  CHARACTERISTICS 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler  left  India  the  last 
time  on  Feb.  22,  1893,  fifty-two  years,  five 
months,  and  ten  days  after  the  first  landing  of 
the  Doctor  in  that  country.  It  must  have  seemed 
to  him  very  improbable  that  he  would  ever  re- 
turn. We  may  not  imagine  his  thoughts  and 
feelings  when  he  looked  for  the  last  time  upon 
the  land  to  which  he  had  given  his  life,  and 
set  his  face  toward  his  native  shores.  The 
people  were  to  him  as  a great  family,  all  his 
own, — buildings,  schools,  churches,  characters, 
the  results  of  his  devotion  and  labor.  Souls 
saved,  communities  changed,  powerful  influences 
set  in  motion  to  continue  for  good  forever,  as 
results  of  his  life-work,  were  left  behind.  And 
all  were  in  the  hands  of  Him  who  “ giveth  the 
increase.” 

While  coming  through  the  Mediterranean  Sea, 
Mrs.  Bacheler  took  a severe  cold,  and  was  quite 


BACK  IN  AMERICA 


447 


ill  during  the  remainder  of  the  journey.  They 
reached  New  York  in  the  spring.  Grace  pre- 
ceded them  to  the  New  Hampton  home  and 
got  the  house  in  order,  whither  they  went, 
accompanied  by  Mrs.  Eliza  Dean-Bacheler — the 
daughter-in-law,  who  remained  with  them  three 
or  four  years.  After  they  were  rested  and 
stronger,  she  returned  to  Summit,  N.  J.,  where 
she  now  lives  with  her  four  children,  who  are 
doing  well.  Then  they  were  alone,  aside  from 
occasional  helpers  for  heavy  work  and  chores, 
and  they  were  very  happy.  Occasionally  they 
attended  a convention  or  meeting  where  they 
could  say  something  for  India.  At  Ocean  Park 
the  influence  of  their  presence  and  words  was 
always  cheering,  and  their  interest  in  missions 
was  still  strongly  manifest  in  th.e  church  and 
school  at  New  Hampton. 

In  1897  the  fiftieth  wedding  anniversary  oc- 
curred, and  although  very  few  people  in  New 
Hampton  knew  the  date,  these  few  — Mrs.  Eliza 
Dean-Bacheler,  Miss  Waterman,  principal  of  the 
female  department  of  New  Hampton  Literary 
Institution,  and  Mrs.  Scotland,  an  India  friend — 
determined  that  it  should  not  pass  without  being 


448 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


a Golden  Wedding  indeed.  Nearly  all  the  peo- 
ple of  the  village  came  to  congratulate  the  much 
loved  couple  who  had  lived  and  labored  together 
so  worthily.  It  was  planned  for  the  older  peo- 
ple to  come  in  the  afternoon,  stay  to  supper, 
and  make  room  for  the  younger  people  in  the 
evening,  but  many  who  came  in  the  afternoon 
remained  through  the  evening.  Music,  remarks, 
and  recitations  from  those  present,  and  written 
greetings  from  many  friends  who  could  not  be 
there,  helped  to  make  a delightful  occasion ; 
everybody  was  happy  in  doing  something  for 
the  pleasure  of  Dr.  and  “ Aunty  ” Bacheler. 
“ Filthy  rags,  filthy  rags,”  said  Mrs.  Bacheler 
with  a sigh,  after  all  were  gone  and  she  had 
sat  quietly  and  in  meditation  a while.  ‘‘Why, 
mother,  what  do  you  mean?”  asked  Mrs.  Eliza 
Bacheler.  ‘‘Your  father  deserves  it  all,  but  of 
myself  1 was  thinking,  through  all  the  demon- 
stration, ‘ filthy  rags.’”  She  appreciated,  but 
she  felt  unworthy. 

In  the  spring  of  1899,  the  son  George  W. 
with  his  family  moved  from  Manchester,  where 
he  was  then  residing,  to  the  old  New  Hampton 
home  to  take  care  of  the  father  and  mother. 


BACK  IN  AMERICA 


449 


Here  he  remained  with  loving  care  until  the 
end  came  to  both,  and  the  home  was  broken 
up.  The  devotion  of  the  children  was  remark- 
able. The  daughters  were  ever  ready  with  all 
possible  personal  service.  It  required  only  the 
word  “Come”  to  take  Maria  from  her  duties 
in  Boston  to  New  Hampton,  with  dainties  and 
care,  when  there  was  sickness  in  the  home. 
One  reason  for  this  may  be  in  the  expression 
of  her  own  words,  “ It  was  heaven  begun  below, 
to  be  with  him,  and  there  is  not  a day  but  I 
live  over  in  memory  the  blessed  hours  of  sweet 
companionship  that  I,  his  oldest  child,  spent  with 
him.”  The  tender  relations  between  him  and 
his  son  Albert  were  very  noticeable.  It  has 
been  said  that  they  were  far  more  confidential 
and  agreeable  than  is  often  the  case  between 
father  and  son.  Sometimes  when  they  had  been 
together  the  mother  would  say,  “ What  pre- 
cious memories  these  will  be  to  Albert  when  his 
father  is  gone.”  After  George  moved  up  his 
family,  Grandma  Bacheler  had  school  with  the 
three  children  every  day  during  the  summer 
vacation,  and  added  much  in  her  instruction 
which  was  not  in  the  books.  But  the  strength 


450 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


of  both  was  failing,  and  it  was  evident  that 
the  end  was  not  far  off.  Of  the  closing  scenes 
we  think  it  better  that  the  daughter,  Dr.  Mary, 
should  speak,  since  she  has  described  them  fully, 
and  in  words  filled  with  her  heart,  portraying, 
perhaps  better  than  any  others  could,  her  filial 
devotion,  although  what  she  here  says  was  not 
written  for  insertion  in  this  book  but  to  give  us 
facts : — 

“ 1 knew  that  both  of  them  were  infirm,  and 
had  been  sick,  but  1 was  hardly  prepared  for 
mother’s  letter  received  in  England,  on  my  way 
home,  in  April,  igoo,  telling  of  father’s  increas- 
ing weakness,  and  expressing  the  hope  that  1 
might  be  in  time  to  see  him.  When  1 reached 
home  1 thought  that  mother  seemed  well,  and 
that  she  had  aged  but  little  since  we  parted, 
seven  years  before.  The  change  in  father  was 
greater.  He  could  not  walk  at  all,  even  across 
the  floor,  without  his  canes,  and  he  left  his 
chair  as  little  as  possible. 

“When  the  news  came  to  me,  in  the  hospital 
at  Concord,  that  mother  had  had  a shock,  and 
later  that  she  was  failing,  and  that  if  1 would 
see  her  alive  1 must  go  to  New  Hampton  at 


THE  NEW  HAMPTON  STUDY 


BACK  IN  AMERICA 


451 


once,  I grieved  greatly  for  father,  knowing 
how  distressed  he  would  be.  I hastened  to  her 
bedside ; she  lay  unconscious,  yet  with  periods 
of  greater  apparent  stupor.  Sometimes  I think 
she  knew  me  as  I sat  on  the  side  of  the  bed 
and  her  restless  hand  traveled  up  and  down, 
sometimes  lingering  about  my  face  as  if  she 
would  caress  me.  Mother  always  dreaded  the 
physical  side  of  dying,  and  I was  thankful,  even 
in  the  midst  of  my  grief  at  the  suddenness  of 
the  end,  that  she  was  taken  from  comparative 
health  and  passed  away  without  knowledge  of 
pain,  or  consciousness  of  death.  She  passed 
away  at  2.30  A.  M.,  and,  when  we  went  in  later 
to  see  her,  a beautiful  calm  was  on  her  face;  the 
flush  of  sickness,  all  signs  of  suffering,  had 
passed  away,  and  she  seemed  as  one  seeing 
the  God  in  whose  service  so  many  years  of 
her  life  had  been  spent. 

"Poor  father!  How  we  grieved  for  him  in 
his  loneliness.  He  did  not  wish  nor  expect  to 
linger  long  behind.  When  he  went  in  to  see 
her,  he  sat  on  the  side  of  the  bed  and  stroking 
her  face  said,  ‘ It  won’t  be  long,  Sarah,  it 
won’t  be  long.’ 


452 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


“ How  bravely  he  took  up  his  life,  and  how 
nobly  he  lived  for  eight  and  a half  long,  weary 
months,  as  they  must  have  seemed  to  him;  pre- 
cious months  they  were  to  us  who  loved  him 
so  dearly.  He  seemed  to  get  a little  stronger 
as  the  summer  came  on  and  he  was  more  out 
of  doors.  He  used  to  enjoy  sitting  where  he 
could  feel  the  wind  on  his  face,  and  watch  the 
trees  and  birds  and  those  who  passed  by.  Every 
morning  after  breakfast  and  prayers  we  used 
to  go  for  long  drives  over  the  lovely  hills,  and 
sometimes  he  would  talk  to  me  of  the  past. 
More  often,  however,  we  listened  to  Nature’s 
voice.  He  was  so  social  and  so  much  enjoyed 
out  of  doors  that  we  got  him  a wheel  chair  in 
which  he  could  go  up  to  the  post-office,  over 
the  Institution  grounds,  and  in  fact  wherever 
there  was  sufficient  sidewalk.  When  my  brother 
Albert  went  up  to  New  Hampton  for  his  sum- 
mer vacation,  he  used  to  come  for  father  after 
supper,  wheel  him  in  the  street  or  over  to  Chapel 
Hall,  bringing  him  home  when  the  shadows  be- 
gan to  lengthen. 

“On  one  of  the  elm  trees  in  front  of  the 
house  a Baltimore  oriole  had  made  its  nest,  and 


BACK  IN  AMERICA 


453 


in  the  spring  we  watched  it,  wondering  if  the 
birds  would  come  back  to  it,  or  build  another. 
As  the  tender  leaves  came  out  and  covered  the 
branches  and  twigs  the  nest  was  hidden  ; father 
watched  but  we  never  knew  whether  the  birds 
occupied  the  old  nest  or  built  another. 

“Father  was  greatly  interested  in  the  daily 
news.  During  the  first  of  the  summer  he  read 
newspapers,  magazines,  and  his  own  books. 
After  dinner  he  usually  went  to  the  study  and 
read  by  the  hour,  sometimes  dozing  occasion- 
ally. One  day,  together  we  looked  over  all 
his  medical  instruments  and  appliances;  he  told 
me  about  them  and  asked  me  to  take  all  I 
could  make  any  use  of. 

“ During  the  summer  the  telephone  and  elec- 
tric lights  were  brought  to  the  place,  and  father 
watched  the  work  done  in  connection  with  them. 
As  I look  back  now  over  those  days,  1 see 
how  bravely  he  took  up  the  burden  of  each 
day  so  contented  and  peaceful,  apparently  en- 
joying the  passing  moments,  interesting  himself 
in  whatever  was  going  on,  never  complaining 
or  repining,  just  waiting  with  patience  for  his 
release.  1 cannot  wish  him  back,  though  some- 
times 1 long  and  long  to  see  him. 


454 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHFLER 


“ He  used  to  enjoy  music  ; or  did  he  endure 
it  because  he  thought  the  others  liked  it?  Mother 
used  to  enjoy  it,  and  George  used  to  play  almost 
every  evening.  1 believe  the  reason  why  1 
question  father’s  enjoyment  of  it  is  that  later, 
when  he  was  confined  to  his  bed,  he  did  not 
seem  to  like  it,  and  1 have  wondered  whether 
all  the  time  he  was  grieved  by  it  because  it 
reminded  him  so  much  of  dear  mother,  and 
their  happiness  together. 

“ One  day  when  we  were  out  together  he 
wanted  me  to  drive  to  the  cemetery.  We  went 
to  the  lot  where  mother  was  laid  with  the  four 
children  who  have  gone.  How  lovingly  he 
looked  at  it  and  said,  ‘There  is  room  enough 
for  me  beside  her.’ 

“ Father’s  belief  was  very  simple,  his  faith 
was  childlike,  his  communion  with  God  constant. 
One  day  we  were  talking  of  prayer.  1 asked 
him  how  often  he  prayed.  He  answered,  ‘Al- 
ways.’ Half  jesting  1 said,  ‘ You  are  so  good, 
what  is  there  for  you  to  pray  for?’  He  replied, 
‘Prayer  is  not  alone  asking  for  something,  it  is 
communion  with  God.’  That  communion  was 
real  and  constant  with  him. 


BACK  IN  AMERICA 


455 


“ Throughout  the  summer  father  kept  about, 
sitting  in  the  doorway  and  going  out  on  pleasant 
days. 

“ When  Dr.  Shirley  Smith  was  about  to  sail 
for  India  she  came  to  see  us  for  a few  days,  on  her 
way  from  Vermont  to  Boston.  I took  her  to 
Bristol  after  her  visit,  and  when  I returned  I 
noticed  father  seemed  chilly.  He  went  to  bed 
early  that  night.  The  next  morning  he  did  not 
care  to  get  up  at  his  usual  time.  He  was  not 
about  the  house  much  afterwards.  Late  in 
October  or  early  in  November  he  was  very 
sick,  and  we  were  anxious  about  him.  I found 
that  I could  not  take  all  the  care  of  him 
night  and  day,  and  later  we  got  a nurse,  who 
stayed  off  and  on  until  the  end.  He  failed  rather 
suddenly  at  this  time,  and  then  gradually  gained 
again,  so  that  he  sat  up  in  bed  a little,  and  we 
hoped  he  would  be  a good  deal  better.  He  was 
about  at  his  best  at  Thanksgiving  time.  Albert 
and  his  wife  and  Grace  were  up  with  us. 
Maria  was  here  the  week  previous.  It  was  a 
great  pleasure  to  dear  father  to  have  them  about 
him  again. 

“After  that  he  kept  about  the  same  for  a 


456 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


little  while,  and  then  gradually  failed,  growing 
weaker  and  weaker,  yet  without  any  apparent 
ailment.  After  Christmas  he  had  a bad  time 
with  his  stomach,  and  had  some  very  distressing 
vomiting  spells,  and  would  eat  nothing.  He  was 
restless,  and  sometimes  his  mind  seemed  to 
wander  a little,  but  in  the  main  it  was  wonder- 
fully clear.  The  nurse  would  sometimes  say 
in  the  morning,  ‘ The  Doctor  is  better,  but  he 
was  twisted  in  his  mind  in  the  night.’ 

“When  he  first  took  his  bed  he  was  puzzled 
as  to  his  own  identity,  asking  us  every  now  and 
then,  ‘ Who  am  1 ? Later  he  was  moved  from 
the  study  to  the  room  that  used  to  be  mother’s 
and  his,  and  I think  the  changes  in  furniture 
troubled  him,  for  he  often  asked,  ‘Where  am 
I ? What  house  is  this?’  And  he  asked  so 
often,  ‘What  time  is  it?’,  that  we  got  the 
big  clock  from  the  sitting-room,  with  its  large, 
black,  distinct  figures,  and  put  it  on  the  mantle. 

“ Christmas  day  he  was  unusually  well,  but 
during  that  week  he  was  so  sick  we  hardly 
expected  to  keep  him  from  one  day  to  another. 
On  the  last  day  of  the  year,  when  1 went  in  to 
say  ‘ Good-morning,’  his  eyes  were  clear,  and  he 


BACK  IN  AMERICA 


457 


looked  quite  himself.  All  day  he  was  so  much 
better  that  we  thought  by  the  next  day  we  could 
let  people  see  him  again.  When  1 went  to  kiss 
him  good-night,  he  asked  me  if  some  bills  had 
been  settled,  and,  putting  his  arm  around  my 
neck,  drew  me  down  and  kissed  me.  He  had 
been  so  restless  during  the  week,  that  we  had 
some  sleeping  tablets  for  him  ; but  this  evening 
he  went  to  sleep  quite  early  and  quietly  without 
them. 

“At  midnight  1 heard  Mrs.  Jenks,  the  nurse, 
up  with  him,  giving  him  food  and  medicine. 
She  told  him  that  the  new  century  had  come 
in  with  the  New  Year.  They  talked  a little 
about  it.  His  whisper  was  clear ; so  was  his 
mind.  At  three  o’clock  in  the  morning  the  nurse 
was  up  with  him  again  ; he  manifested  restless- 
ness. She  queried  whether  or  not  she  should 
give  him  his  quieting  medicine,  but  he  soon 
dropped  off  to  sleep  again  and  rested  quietly 
until  nearly  four  o’clock,  when  he  moved  as 
if  distressed,  and  drew  a few  sighing  breaths. 
She  called  to  me,  and  1 was  with  him  at  once, 
but  there  was  neither  pulse  nor  respiration. 

“ We  had  the  funeral  on  the  next  Sunday, 


458 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  laid  away  our  dear  one  in  the  older  part  of 
the  cemetery,  beside  the  wife  and  children  laid 
there  before.  It  was  a beautiful  winter  day, 
clear,  bright,  and  cold ; its  sunset  flooded  hill 
and  valley  with  lights  of  rose  and  gold.” 

Such  is  the  brief  and  tender  story  of  the 
passing  of  this  noble  man  and  woman,  whose 
lives  had  been  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  their 
fellow-men,  under  the  divine  leadership.  Mrs. 
Bacheler  had  strong  domestic  instincts ; her 
presence  made  any  place  homelike.  On  this 
account  it  was  hard  for  her  to  be  separated  from 
her  family,  while  this  same  love  for  home  enabled 
her  to  be  a great  help  to  her  husband  when  on 
the  mission  field.  She  had  a deep  love  for 
humanity.  The  spirit  manifest  toward  her 

Sunday-school  class  in  Lowell,  gathering  in  the 
forgotten  and  neglected,  was  the  spirit  which  led 
her  to  gather  the  boys  and  girls  of  India  on  the 
home  veranda  for  industrial  and  intellectual  edu- 
cation, and  which  sent  her  out  among  the  jungle 
schools.  The  thirst  for  education  which  led  her 
to  Mount  Holyoke  was  the  soul’s  voice  urging 
her  to  gain  fitness  for  great  usefulness.  The 


BACK  IN  AMERICA 


459 


searching  of  her  heart,  the  great  struggle  through 
which  she  passed  at  conversion,  effected  a com- 
plete change,  which  prepared  her  to  pass  through 
other  mighty  struggles  unmoved.  Her  life  was 
a very  useful  one,  — useful  beyond  our  power  to 
estimate.  In  addition  to  the  strength  of  her 
home  influence,  her  personal  work  in  the  field, 
she  was  always  ready  to  speak  at  public  gath- 
erings where  her  utterances  did  good.  Probably 
her  writings  were  among  the  strongest  features 
of  her  work.  She  wrote  much,  and  while  she 
interested  and  instructed  with  facts,  she  stimu- 
lated sympathy  and  cooperation. 

A monument  to  her  labors  with  the  pen  is 
the  inspiring  “Life  of  Lavina  Crawford,”  which 
was  written  out  by  her,  for  which  the  mission, 
the  denomination,  the  world  owes  her  a debt 
of  gratitude.  Her  success  was  largely  due  to 
her  faith  in  God.  Every  day,  at  certain  hours, 
she  went  to  her  closet,  and  there  pleaded  with 
God  to  fulfil  his  promises,  and  although  the  fam- 
ily often  heard,  it  seemed  as  though  she  thought 
only  God  was  hearing. 

The  funeral  services  for  Dr.  Bacheler  were 
very  impressive.  The  remains  of  the  veteran 


460 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


missionary  were  escorted  from  his  late  residence 
to  the  village  church  by  a long  procession,  headed 
by  delegates  from  the  three  Literary  Societies 
of  the  Institute.  At  the  church  a quartette,  con- 
sisting of  W.  H.  Dow,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Case,  Mrs. 
H.  W.  Brown,  and  Professor  H.  W.  Brown, 
rendered  appropriate  music,  accompanied  by 
Miss  Jessie  Waterman.  Professor  Shirley  J. 
Case  read  Scripture  selections.  Rev.  J.  Burn- 
ham Davis  offered  prayer.  Rev.  A.  B.  Meservey, 
a life-long  friend  of  Dr.  Bacheler,  was  to  have 
preached  the  sermon,  but  on  account  of  illness 
he  was  unable  to  be  present.  He  sent  his  pre- 
pared sermon,*  and  it  was  read  by  Professor 
Case.  Very  appreciative  and  tender  remarks 
were  made  by  Rev.  A.  Given,  D.  D.,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  General  Conference  Board. 
A letter  t from  his  only  surviving  brother,  Rev. 
Frederick  L.  Bacheler,  of  Stafford,  Conn.,  was 
read  by  Rev.  Robert  Ford,  of  Campton,  a cousin. 
Then  with  a few  heartfelt  remarks  by  Professor 
Case,  and  prayer  by  Rev.  George  L.  White,  a 
former  pastor,  the  solemn  services  closed,  and 


*The  sermon  is  printed  in  the  next  chapter. 

\ The  letter  is  contained  in  the  following  chapter. 


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461 


the  casket,  with  its  precious  contents,  was  car- 
ried to  the  village  cemetery,  amid  a profusion  of 
flowers  bestowed  by  devoted  hearts  and  loving 
hands.  And  there  in  that  beautiful  hillside  city 
of  the  dead,  white  with  nature’s  winding-sheet, 
while  the  heavens  were  bright  and  rosy  with 
promise,  the  form  was  laid  away.  A brief 
prayer,  many  tears  and  farewell  sighs,  and  the 
concourse  of  people  turned  back  to  their  homes, 
not  soon  to  forget  the  great  and  good  life  which 
had  passed.  The  work  of  the  world,  religiously 
and  otherwise,  went  on,  but  differently  from  what 
it  would,  had  he  never  lived  as  one  of  God’s 
noblemen. 

Men  possessed  of  as  many  rare  qualities  as  was 
Dr.  Bacheler  are  exceptional.  There  is  no  ques- 
tion about  his  Christian  character  in  the  control 
of  his  own  life,  and  his  relation  to  his  fellow- 
men  ; the  Spirit  of  Christ  dominated.  Depending 
upon  that  Spirit  he  was  always  well  poised  and 
self-reliant ; he  never  forgot  that  he  was  the 
ambassador  of  another,  who  took  the  responsi- 
bility for  affairs,  and  for  him  as  well. 

To  adjust  himself  to  circumstances  always 
se  emed  an  easy  matter  to  him.  This  was  due 


462 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


no  doubt  in  a large  measure  to  his  early  train- 
ing, his  good  sense,  and  his  reliance  upon  God. 
He  could  make  himself  at  home  in  the  habitation 
of  poverty  in  America  or  in  India;  while  among 
men  of  science  and  official  position  he  was 
equally  at  ease,  showing  them,  without  any 
intent  on  his  part,  that  they  had  met  in  him  a 
peer. 

He  was  a student  of  men,  with  a deep  inter- 
est in  humanity  ; if  he  found  that  he  failed  to 
interest  his  listeners  in  one  way,  he  tried  an- 
other ; when  endeavoring  to  secure  assistance 
for  the  mission,  always  so  dear  to  his  heart,  if 
he  found  that  his  man  had  no  care  for  evan- 
gelistic work,  then  he  set  forth  the  needs  of 
the  dispensary,  the  school,  or  the  press.  Mr. 
Hallam,  Mr.  Griffin,  and  Mr.  George  were  all 
influenced  by  Dr.  Bacheler  in  their  decision  to 
go  to  India.  Many  date  the  beginning  of  their 
interest  in  missions  to  his  stirring  addresses. 
Prof.  Chadwick  of  Malden,  Mass.,  lately  said: 
" I owe  it  to  Dr.  Bacheler  that  I am  here  to- 
day. In  one  of  his  trips  he  stopped  at  my 
father’s  house,  and  persuaded  my  parents  to 
send  me  to  New  Hampton  to  school.  That  was 


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463 


the  opening  of  life  for  me."  Doubtless  many 
others  could  give  a like  testimony. 

He  was  judicious  with  money  in  his  work, 
economical  for  himself.  When  it  was  difficult 
to  raise  money  for  the  mission  during  the  Civil 
War,  at  a Board  meeting  when  the  perplexities 
of  the  situation  were  discussed,  he  said  : “ When 
1 die,  1 do  not  want  money  expended  for  a fune- 
ral. Put  me  in  a plain  coffin,  and  use  the  money 
saved,  for  missions."  This  self-forgetfulness  in 
mission  thoughtfulness  was  characteristic  of  him. 
He  was  ready  to  decrease,  that  missions  might 
increase.  His  self-poise  revealed  itself  in  two 
ways.  First  it  was  shown  in  his  modesty ; 
quiet  and  unobtrusive,  he  made  no  pretensions, 
rarely  talked  about  himself,  and  showed  what 
he  could  do  by  doing  it.  Yet  he  had  a proper 
estimate  of  his  ability,  and  of  the  efforts  of 
others.  His  self-poise  was  also  shown  in  his 
moderation,  which  saved  him  much  wear  and 
tear,  a characteristic  much  appreciated  by  the 
natives  of  India,  and  one  very  necessary  for 
one  living  in  a hot  climate.  Without  doubt, 
exercise,  good  care,  and  moderation  prolonged 
his  life.  Mrs.  Griffin  says  that  once  she  got 


464 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


very  much  disturbed  when  a native  was  beating 
his  wife  and  the  Doctor  would  not  go  and  sepa- 
rate them.  “How  do  1 know  that  she  does 
not  deserve  it?”  said  he  in  reply  to  Mrs.  Grif- 
fin’s pleadings.  “ It  would  be  better  for  me  to 
talk  to  him  quietly  when  his  anger  is  over,”  he 
replied  again,  and  continued  his  reading. 

Probably  this  characteristic  of  moderation  en- 
abled him  to  do  much  more  than  otherwise 
would  have  been  possible.  Coupled  as  it 
was  with  industry,  Dr.  Bacheler  accomplished  a 
prodigious  work ; by  moderation  he  was  usually 
well,  losing  very  little  time  by  illness  until  the 
final  breakdown  came  in  old  age.  He  never 
hurried,  but  he  did  a great  work.  Together 
with  the  great  public  responsibilities  of  his  sta- 
tion he  usually  called  upon  the  native  families 
nearly  every  day.  Mr.  Wyman  says  that  they 
admired  him  for  these  characteristics  and  often 
refer  to  him  at  the  present  time  in  connection 
with  them.  Even  now,  though  over  forty  years 
have  passed  since  he  labored  at  Balasore,  Mr. 
Hamlen  says  that  some  of  the  older  people  there 
refer  to  his  methods  and  sayings  with  much 
interest. 


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465 


Every  step  of  the  adult  life  of  this  man  is 
marked  with  the  evidence  of  courage.  When 
away  from  his  New  Hampton  home,  in  the 
winter  of  ’62,  he  wrote  to  his  wife  as  follows  : — 

“1  am  convinced  that  if  we  had  any  more 
means  I should  not  do  so  much  for  God  and 
the  world.  It  is  all  for  the  best  that  I am 
driven  from  home  for  months  at  a time.  I 
scarcely  know  how  1 have  got  through  the  win- 
ter. 1 have  been  sensible  of  an  upholding 
hand,  and  when  1 can  feel  that,  all  is  well,  labor 
is  light.” 

“ The  sense  of  an  upholding  hand,”  — was 
not  that  the  source  of  his  courage  ? With 
that  he  could  work  and  encourage  others  to 
work,  as  he  expressed  himself  to  the  Woman’s 
Society  in  ’63,  when,  after  referring  to  Miss 
Crawford  as  a light  shining  in  a dark  place, 
also  to  some  discouragements,  he  said:  “Shall 
we  give  way  to  discouragements  ? Not  a bit 
of  it.  But  as  that  famous  preacher  out  West 
said  of  the  ‘Hard  Shell  Baptists,’  ‘We’ll  hold  on 
by  the  claws,  we’ll  hold  on  by  the  teeth,  . . . 
but  hold  on  we  will.’  We  shall  come  out  right 
side  up  by-and-by.  Don’t  be  discouraged.  I 


466 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


am  hopeful,  joyful,  and  never  before  felt  so 
happy  in  my  work.” 

He  was  very  ingenious.  As  a physician  he 
had  more  than  local  fame,  and  was  the  first  in 
Bengal  to  use  chloroform.  When  he  began  to 
practice,  drugs  were  expensive  and  not  easily 
obtained,  but  he  made  many  of  his  own  from 
crude  material  as  well  as  the  appliances  for 
doing  this.  Sometimes  his  home-made  instru- 
ments were  somewhat  rude,  but  they  answered 
every  purpose.  He  compounded  ” Pain  Killer,” 
“ Rheumatic  Elixir,”  and  pills.  Being  the  den- 
tist for  the  mission  and  having  no  dentist’s  chair 
he  planned  one,  and  took  his  plan  to  the  native 
carpenter  and  blacksmith,  who  turned  out  a 
chair  which  answered  every  purpose.  He  had 
many  instruments  made  in  the  same  way;  they 
were  not  nickel-plated,  so  required  a good  deal 
of  rubbing  to  keep  off  the  rust,  but  they  were 
always  serviceable.  When  the  dampness  of  the 
floor  of  the  Bible  School  dormitories  threatened 
to  destroy  the  utility  of  the  building,  he  found 
a remedy  by  putting  under  the  floor  a layer 
of  earthern  cooking  pots  covered  with  earth, 
making  it  continually  dry.  When  he  felt  unable 


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467 


to  buy  raincoats  for  the  horses  he  took  cloth 
and  paint  and  made  some.  When  “Bercher,” 
his  nervous,  unreliable  pony  from  Burmah,  was 
determined  to  start  off  the  moment  any  one 
came  near  the  carriage,  he  broke  him  of  it  by 
having  the  Syce  rub  the  animal’s  ears  while 
he  was  getting  in. 

Skilful  in  discovery  and  invention,  he  turned 
his  knowledge  to  practical  uses.  When  the 
crayfish  was  an  object  of  scientific  investigation, 
he  got  a creature  of  the  same  family,  called  the 
"chingree,”  and  made  a comparative  study  of 
its  anatomy.  Ethnology  deeply  interested  him 
and  he  made  several  plaster  casts  of  the  differ- 
ent races  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  A 
copy  of  one  of  these  is  inserted  for  examination 
here.  Although  he  did  not  have  the  advan- 
tages of  a college  education,  he  did  much  in  the 
line  of  scholarship ; able  to  do  work  in  eight 
different  languages,  he  was  conversant  with 
six.  Dartmouth  College  conferred  upon  him 
the  degree  of  M.  D.;  the  degree  of  D.  D.  was 
given  to  him  by  Hillsdale  College  in  i88i,and 
by  Bates  College  in  1895.  In  1898  he  was 
made  delegate  at  large  for  the  Indian  mission 


.MASK  OF  LAVINA  CRAWFORD 


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469 


by  the  Christians  of  that  field.  He  had  an  ex- 
tensive knowledge  of  natural  science  and  an 
acquaintance  with  many  men  of  literary  note. 
Particular  to  take  a proper  amount  of  exercise 
until  his  health  broke  down,  he  was  an  early 
riser.  After  taking  his  cup  of  tea,  slice  of  bread 
and  butter,  his  habit  was  to  go  out  for  half  an 
hour,  usually  on  horseback,  often  taking  his 
polo  stick  and  ball,  to  practice  for  fifteen  min- 
utes before  a canter.  He  never  failed  to  eulo- 
gize the  “sweet  half  hour  before  sunrise.” 

When  the  rain  prevented  him  from  riding  out, 
he  usually  walked  back  and  forth  on  the  veranda 
or  in  the  dining  room,  sometimes  singing,  some- 
times whistling  softly  to  himself,  sometimes  in 
meditation,  but  always  cheerful,  well  poised, 
ready  to  devote  his  whole  attention  to  any  mat- 
ter at  a moment’s  notice. 

Very  much  of  an  athlete,  he  could  take  a 
winning  hand  at  polo  when  he  was  needed. 
Contesting  in  gymnastic  sports  with  the  boys, 
he  usually  won  the  prize ; while  as  a marksman 
he  was  unexcelled  in  the  mission,  always  bear- 
ing off  the  trophies  at  the  4th  of  July  “shooting 
matches.” 


470 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


On  one  of  his  preaching  tours  he  was  accom- 
panied by  a Mr.  Duff  of  Balasore.  At  a certain 
place  the  villagers  told  them  that  bears  were 
committing  depredations  in  the  neighborhood, 
consequently  the  two  Sahibs  went  on  a hunt. 
While  walking  cautiously  through  the  jungle  a 
bear  jumped  upon  Mr.  Duff  and  began  to  hug 
and  tear  him.  There  was  no  time  to  lose,  and 
though  it  was  a hard  case,  with  quick  and  sure 
aim  the'  bear  was  killed  and  Mr.  Duff  escaped 
without  much  harm.  When  asked  how  his 
aim  was  so  accurate  he  replied,  “ I take  aim 
and  fire  at  once,  before  getting  nervous.” 

One  great  secret  of  his  getting  the  help  of 
others  for  the  work,  and  the  best  endeavor  from 
those  with  whom  he  labored,  was  in  the  fact 
that  he  kept  before  himself  the  possibilities  of 
people, — the  possibilities  to  be  and  to  do. 

His  policy  in  the  Bible  School  was  somewhat 
different  from  that  of  some  others.  He  would 
take  those  who  did  not  seem  promising  and 
give  them  a chance,  doing  all  in  his  power  to 
make  men  of  them.  While  about  the  walls  of 
the  building  were  hung  the  words  “ Be  Men,” 
they  always  saw  before  them  a good  example 


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471 


of  what  he  asked  them  to  become.  Whenever 
one  failed,  he  always  said,  “ Try  again.” 

Far-sighted  and  discreet,  he  looked  ahead 
and  made  large  plans,  yet  he  did  not  lift  the 
curtain  high  enough  for  others  to  get  discour- 
aged at  the  largeness,  of  his  vision.  But  we 
should  fail  in  any  attempt  to  enumerate  his 
virtues  did  we  not  mention  his  tenderness.  The 
combination  of  strength  and  tenderness  is  ever 
beautiful.  It  was  in  him  manifest  throughout 
his  life. 

Valuable  work  has  been  done  in  the  Free 
Baptist  mission  by  the  missionaries  of  later  years, 
but  the  work  of  the  pioneers  in  stability,  wise 
and  daring  plans,  together  with  self-sacrificing 
devotion,  has  never  been  surpassed.  Noyes, 
Phillips,  and  Bacheler  were  the  pioneers  in  our 
India  work.  The  last  for  general  usefulness  to 
the  mission  has  not  been  surpassed,  in  some 
respects  not  equalled.  For  noble  service  and 
good  influence  he  stands  among  the  greatest  mis- 
sionaries of  modern  times.  As  we  have. written 
out  this  biography,  we  have  lived  over  again, 
with  our  dear  friend,  his  life.  Step  by  step 
we  have  gone  with  him  through  poverty,  early 


472 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


preparatory  struggles,  over  the  continent  awak- 
ening the  people  to  their  opportunity,  across 
the  oceans  eight  times,  through  the  jungles  of 
India  and  to  the  snowy  portals  of  the  grave 
amid  New  Hampshire’s  ever  glorious  hills,  not 
far  from  the  place  of  his  birth,  in  sight  of  old 
Kearsarge  mountains.  From  that  grave  we  have 
turned  away  saying,  “Blessed  are  the  dead 
which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth ; yea, 
saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
labors  ; and  their  works  do  follow  them.’’  We 
know  that  multitudes  of  lives  have  been  exalted 
by  that  one.  On  Aug.  12,  1863,  he  said  in 
The  Morning  Siar : “Our  mission  flag  floats 
once  more  upon  the  breeze  at  Midnapore.  There 
let  it  float  till  idolatry  shall  have  passed  from 
the  recollections  of  the  living.”  As  we  turn 
away  from  that  grave  the  mission  flag  still  floats 
on  the  breeze  at  Midnapore  and  in  many  adja- 
cent places,  because  of  his  faithful  labors.  May 
loyal  hands  keep  it  there. 

In  our  endeavor  to  reproduce  this  grand  life 
we  have  realized  that  our  best  attempt  would 
be  but  a faint  and  inadequate  portrayal.  With 
every  step  of  the  way,  our  determination  has 


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473 


been  strengthened  for  better  and  nobler  living, 
and  we  would  that  it  might  have  the  same  effect 
upon  all  who  read  this  memoir. 

But  now  this  journey  with  him  is  ended  ; our 
task  is  nearly  completed.  Little  remains  to  be 
done  except  to  give  place  to  the  expressions  of 
appreciation  made  by  co-laborers  and  loving 
friends.  A collection  of  letters  including  his 
description  of  Palestine  and  Cape  Town,  Africa, 
would  be  interesting,  but  lack  of  space  forbids. 
And  may  we  — living  over  again  in  memory 
delightful  association  with  him  ; or  in  imagina- 
tion, as  v/e  read  this  record,  thus  entering  into 
his  rich  and  useful  life  — may  we,  when  the 
shadows  fall,  resume  the  journey  with  him, 
where  “ they  need  no  .candle  ; neither  light  of  the 
sun;  for  the  Lord  God  giveth  them  light;  and 
they  shall  reign  forever  and  ever.” 

To  such  as  he  it  must  be  said,  “ Well  done, 
thou  good  and  faithful  servant ; thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a few  things ; 1 will  make  thee 
ruler  over  many  things.  Enter  thou  into  the 
joy  of  thy  Lord.” 

It  seems  to  us  fitting  that,  in  closing,  a few 
words  should  be  said  concerning  the  Surviving 


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475 


relatives.  Of  his  brothers  only  one  remains, 
the  Rev.  Frederick  L.  Bacheler  of  Stafford, 
Conn.,  a clergyman  of  the  Baptist  denomination. 
In  1852  he  settled  over  the  church  at  Stafford, 
and  has  resided  there  most  of  the  time  since. 
He  was  two  years  the  senior  of  our  missionary. 

Of  Dr.  Bacheler’s  children,  five  are  living. 
Maria  Elizabeth,  the  oldest,  resides  in  Boston, 
unmarried,  but  leading  a busy  life.  She  was 
educated  in  the  school  of  her  aunt,  Dora  Merrill, 
in  Concord,  N.  H.,  and  is  actively  interested  in 
all  good  work. 

Albert  William  enlisted  as  a private  for  the 
Federal  Army  in  the  Civil  War,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  ; was  promoted  and  made  captain  in 
’64  ; was  captured  and  put  into  Libby  prison, 
from  which  he  escaped,  also  in  ’64 ; and  in  ’65 
was  mustered  out  of  the  service.  He  is  a grad- 
uate of  Dartmouth,  and  teaching  has  been  his 
business  ; for  about  twenty  years  he  has  been 
principal  of  the  high  school  in  Gloucester,  Mass. 
He  married  Miss  Abbie  Hayes,  of  New  Hampton, 
N.  H.  One  daughter  was  born  to  them,  beautiful 
and  promising,  but  was  taken  away  at  the  age 
of  twelve  and  one-half  years. 


476 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


George  Winslow  has  for  several  years  made 
his  home  in  Manchester,  N.  H.  He  married  Miss 
Jean  Douglass,  of  Manchester.  They  have 
three  children,  Annie  Grace,  Frank,  and  Sarah 
Elizabeth.  In  the  spring  of  ’99  the  family  moved 
to  New  Hampton,  to  care  for  the  father  and 
mother.  After  they  passed  away  the  New 
Hampton  home  was  broken  up,  and  he  removed 
the  family  to  Manchester,  residing  there  since, 
and  working  at  his  trade.  He  is  a mechanic. 

Grace  Darling  inherited  much  of  her  mother’s 
love  for  teaching.  She  attended  school  in  Con- 
cord, N.  H.  ; also  at  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary, 
Mass.  For  some  years  she  has  been  a successful 
teacher,  and  is  now  connected  with  the  domestic 
science  department  of  public  schools  in  Boston. 

Mary  Washington  has  spent  the  most  of  her 
life  in  India.  Living  very  close  to  her  father 
and  assisting  him  in  his  medical  dispensary,  at 
a very  early  age  she  found  herself  very  deeply 
interested  in  sick  people,  and  the  remedies  for 
their  diseases.  It  is  not  strange  that  with  experi- 
ence and  natural  inclination  she  determined  to 
become  a medical  missionary.  In  1890  she  grad- 
uated from  the  Woman’s  Medical  College,  New 


BACK  IN  AMERICA 


477 


York.  A few  months  later  she  returned  to  India, 
and  was  associated  with  her  father  in  practice. 
When  he  left  India  the  last  time  she  inherited 
his  dispensary  and  practice.  As  a physician  and 
Christian  worker  she  has  met  with  marked 
success.  After  being  with  her  parents  during 
their  last  days,  taking  some  rest,  seeking  spiritual 
power,  devoting  herself  to  medical  lecturesjand 
Floating  Hospital  work  in  Boston,  she  sailed  for 
India  again  in  October,  1903,  there  to  resume 
her  work  as  medical  missionary. 


CHAPTER  XVII 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 

Many  of  the  personal  friends  of  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Bacheler,  some  being  their  fellow-laborers,  have 
made  their  tribute  to  their  worth  in  words  of 
confidence  and  praise. 

We  give  place  to  some  of  these,  because  they 
should  form  a part  of  this  record.  Especially 
should  a place  be  accorded  to  the  sermon  pre- 
pared for  the  funeral  occasion  by  his  friend  of 
many  years,  Rev.  A.  B.  Meservey,  D.  D.  We 
insert  this,  making  a few  corrections  in  the  facts 
of  Dr.  Meservey’s  record,  which  a mortal  illness 
did  not  allow  him  opportunity  to  verify. 

Without  doubt  many  others  would  gladly  con- 
tribute expressions  of  sincere  devotion  were  there 
sufficient  space  for  them  here. 

DR.  MESERVEY’S  SERMON 

If  you  are  to  build  a house,  a palace,  a tem- 
ple, a cathedral,  which  shall  endure,  your  first 
care  should  be  to  lay  a firm,  solid  foundation 
on  which  to  build.  The  loftier  the  structure, 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


479 


the  deeper  you  should  dig.  The  more  ponder- 
ous the  edifice,  the  more  carefully  should  you 
cement  the  basement  walls.  The  foundation 
should  be  deep  enough,  broad  enough,  strong 
enough  to  resist  all  the  effects  and  influences 
of  time  and  circumstances  ; and  to  remain  intact 
till  the  superstructure  shall  have  moldered  back 
to  dust. 

So  it  is  with  men.  If  a man  is  to  do  a great 
work,  he  must  have  the  foundation  of  greatness 
in  his  nature.  If  a man  is  to  do  the  work  of  a 
Cromwell,  he  must  have  the  rough,  rugged  phy- 
sical and  mental  nature  of  Cromwell.  If  a man 
is  to  be  a Bismarck,  he  must  have  the  body, 
brain,  and  heart  of  a Bismarck.  And  the  ele- 
ments of  greatness  or  littleness  are  born  in  the 
man.  It  is  true  that  education  and  culture  can 
do  much  toward  developing,  polishing,  improving 
the  natural  abilities  of  a person,  but  such  ad- 
vantages can  never  make  a strong  man  out  of 
a weak  one,  a great  man  out  of  a small  one. 

Dr.  Bacheler  had  all  the  elements  of  body, 
mind,  and  spirit  inherent  in  his  nature  which, 
when  properly  cultivated,  just  fitted  him  for  the 
work  to  which  God  called  him. 


480 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


In  the  first  place,  Dr.  Bacheler  had  a strong 
physical  constitution.  He  was  not  an  athlete. 
He  lived  before  the  era  of  athletics.  But  he 
had  a hardy  physical  frame,  and  his  muscles 
were  hardened  and  strengthened  by  work  — 
work  on  the  farm  and  in  the  shop.  The  world 
in  which  his  youthful  days  were  passed  was  a 
work-world,  not  a play-world.  He  was  so  con- 
stituted that  to  him  work  was  a pleasure,  al- 
most a necessity.  And  thus,  working  cheerfully, 
he  was  enabled  to  accomplish  a wonderful  amount 
of  labor  in  the  rigorous  winters  of  New  Hamp-' 
shire  and  in  the  debilitating  climate  of  India. 
Dr.  Bacheler  was  a worker.  There  was  not 
a lazy  bone  in  his  body.  He  had  a strong 
physical  frame,  but  he  wore  it  out  in  the  service 
of  the  great  Master.  And  he  did  it  willingly, 
cheerfully,  joyfully. 

Dr.  Bacheler  was  an  honest  man — born  hon- 
est. There  was  not  a dishonest  fibre  in  his 
nature.  But  it  may  be  said  by  some  one,  “Of 
course  he  was  honest  if  he  was  a Christian!” 
But  there  are  degrees  of  honesty  even  among 
Christians.  Some  are  naturally  honest,  others 
naturally  dishonest.  And  it  takes  a good  deal 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


481 


of  grace  to  make  an  honest  man  out  of  a dis- 
honest one ! But  Dr.  Bacheler  was  naturally 
honest.  No  one  ever  had  a fear,  or  suspicion 
even,  that  a single  cent  of  money  which  belonged 
to  the  Mission  would  by  any  possibility  find  its 
way  into  his  pocket.  This  gave  him  a strong 
hold  upon  the  denomination  in  his  work  of  col- 
lecting funds  for  the  Foreign  Mission.  1 am 
aware  that  honesty  is  sometimes  called  a homely 
virtue,  but  it  certainly  is  fundamental.  It  is 
one  of  the  corner-stones  of  a noble  character. 
The  man  who  is  honest  in  his  dealings  with  his 
fellow-men,  with  himself  and  with  his  God,  will 
not  go  far  astray.  Dr.  Bacheler  was  emphati- 
cally an  honest  man. 

Dr.  Bacheler  was  a conscientious  man.  He 
inherited  the  Puritan  conscience.  But  his  was 
not  a narrow  conscientiousness.  He  never  mis- 
took his  will  for  his  conscience,  and  he  never 
forgot  that  other  men  had  consciences  as  well 
as  himself.  When  an  enlightened  conscience 
plainly  dictated  a course  of  conduct  or  action, 
he  was  firm  as  a rock ; but  in  matters  of  opinion 
or  of  business  methods  he  was  always  willing 
to  yield  to  the  wish  of  the  majority.  This  made 


482 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


him  an  admirable  member  of  a council  or  com- 
mittee, his  candor,  courtesy,  and  common  sense 
exerting  a strong  influence  for  peace  and  har- 
mony. He  was  not  a slave  to  conscience,  but 
always  kept  his  ear  open  to  the  slightest  whis- 
per of  the  inward  monitor,  and  never  disregarded 
the  most  secret  admonitions  in  regard  to  his  own 
personal  duty.  But  at  the  same  time  he  was 
very  careful  in  judging  what  was  the  duty  of 
another.  He  was  a conscientious  man.  He 
had  a model  conscience. 

Dr.  Bacheler  was  naturally  a modest  man. 
He  was  never  ambitious  for  place  or  station. 
He  never  sought  for  honors.  He  seemed  sur- 
prised when  honors  sought  him.  It  was  enough 
for  him  to  see  clearly  the  duty ; any  one  else 
might  have  the  honor.  No  man  ever  saw  him 
greatly  depressed  by  reverses  or  unduly  elated 
by  successes.  This  was  not  the  result  of  in- 
difference, but  was  due  to  his  firm  trust  in  the 
final  triumph  of  the  great  principles  of  right. 
Dr.  Bacheler  never  would  have  written  the 
words  of  our  text.  He  could  just  as  truthfully 
have  written  them  as  could  St.  Paul.  But  his 
wish,  if  he  could  express  it  to-day,  would  be 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


483 


‘that  the  record  should  be  made  by  another 
rather  than  by  himself.  We  are  glad  to  know 
that  Paul  fought  a good  fight,  finished  his  course, 
kept  the  faith,  but  sometimes  we  wish  that  he 
had  been  a little  more  modest,  a little  more 
sparing  of  self-praise.  Paul  was  not  a modest 
man.  Dr.  Bacheler  was  eminently  so. 

Dr.  Bacheler  was  naturally  a benevolent  man. 
He  did  not  give  lavishly  and  then  become  bank- 
rupt to  pay  his  honest  debts.  He  did  not 
subscribe  liberally  for  benevolent  enterprises, 
knowing  that  he  could  never  pay  his  subscrip- 
tions. He  was  not  liberal  with  other  people’s 
money.  But  he  gave  generously  — some  of  us 
thought  too  generously  — of  the  money  which 
he  himself  earned  by  hard  work.  He  gave 
systematically  — for  many  years,  one-tenth  of 
his  income  was  set  apart  for  benevolent  pur- 
poses. He  told  me  that  the  system  of  tithing 
was  the  best  for  him  ; in  that  way  he  always 
had  something  laid  by  for  any  worthy  cause. 
He  said  that  it  was  undoubtedly  the  best  method 
for  the  Mission.  He  believed  thoroughly  in 
tithing,  but  he  never  offensively  forced  the 
subject  upon  others.  His  whole  life  was  a life 


484 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


of  benevolence.  He  gave  himself  for  others. 
He  sacrificed  comfort,  ease,  pleasure,  property, 
home,  native  land,  Christian  privileges,  family 
ties  — everything,  in  order  to  devote  himself  to 
the  service  of  others.  He  was  naturally  benevo- 
lent. 

Dr.  Bacheler  was  naturally  broad-minded. 
There  was  nothing  narrow  about  his  make-up. 
He  was  denominational,  not  sectarian.  He  was 
a Free  Baptist,  but  on  friendly  terms  with  every 
Christian  sect.  New  England  was  his  birth- 
place, but  the  world  was  his  heritage.  Puritan- 
ism was  his  childhood  teaching,  but  Catholic 
and  Protestant,  Jew  and  Gentile,  Christian  and 
Heathen  were  his  brethren.  His  theological 
food,  from  childhood,  was  New  England  ortho- 
doxy and  the  literal  interpretation  of  the  Scrip- 
tures ; but  his  mind,  naturally  broad  and  liberal, 
could  not  be  confined  to  narrow  limits.  The 
Bible  to  him  was  a book  for  all  times,  all  peo- 
ple, all  circumstances.  He  was  liberal  in  theol- 
ogy, but  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term.  He 
was  orthodox,  not  bigoted,  not  afraid  of  the 
lower  or  higher  criticisms,  and  not  a slave  to 
them,  not  fearful  that  any  one  would  be  able 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


485 


to  overthrow  the  Bible.  He  was  naturally  a 
broad-minded  man,  and  his  experience  had  served 
to  greatly  emphasize  the  fact.  There  was  not 
a narrow  element  in  his  nature. 

But  thus  far  we  have  spoken  only  of  the 
natural  qualities  of  the  man — of  what  was  born 
in  him.  A man  may  possess  a strong  physical 
constitution,  and  yet  never  use  it  for  any  good 
purpose.  He  may  be  honest,  as  the  financial 
world  counts  honesty,  and  still  be  a worthless 
vagabond.  He  may  be  conscientious,  and  still 
be  so  narrow-minded  as  to  become  a public  nui- 
sance. He  may  be  modest,  and  yet  so  modest 
as  to  fail  to  do  anything  or  to  attempt  anything 
worthy  of  remembrance.  He  may  be  naturally 
benevolent,  and  yet  never  have  anything  to 
give  merely  because  he  is  too  lazy  to  work.  He 
may  be  naturally  broad-minded,  and  yet  fritter 
his  life  away  chasing  butterflies  and  fighting 
imaginary  windmills.  Hence  it  is  necessary  in 
making  an  estimate  of  a man,  not  only  to  con- 
sider his  natural  abilities,  but  to  ascertain  how 
he  has  used  them. 

Let  us  speak  of  Dr.  Bacheler  as  a man  among 
men.  He  was  a kind  neighbor,  always  ready 


486 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


to  lift  a helping  hand  in  order  to  render  the 
journey  of  life  easier  for  his  fellow-travelers. 
He  was  a good  citizen,  always  willing  to  carry 
his  proportion  of  the  public  burden.  He  had 
no  enemies,  numerous  friends.  Were  any  one 
to  ask  me  to  name  a man  as  a model  citizen,  I 
should  mention  the  name  of  Dr.  Bacheler  with- 
out hesitation. 

Then  let  us  speak  next  of  Dr.  Bacheler  as 
a scholar.  The  real  scholar  is  always  modest. 
He  was  especially  so.  It  is  no  small  achieve- 
ment to  master  a half-dozen  languages  so  as  to 
speak  them  readily,  preach  in  them  acceptably, 
think  in  them  habitually.  He  was  so  familiar 
with  botany,  geology,  zoology,  and  the  other 
kindred  sciences,  that  I was  surprised,  and  asked 
him  when  he  found  time  for  such  studies.  He 
replied : “ We  do  not  have  to  read  the  daily 
papers.  The  time  that  you  waste  in  reading 
the  news  and  the  contradictions,  we  spend  in 
keeping  up  with  the  intellectual  movements  of 
the  times.” 

Then  also  he  kept  abreast  of  the  most  ad- 
vanced thought  in  regard  to  modern  criticism. 
He  did  not  condemn  the  higher  or  the  lower 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


487 


critics  without  investigation,  nor  did  he  adopt 
their  conclusions  without  'satisfactory  reasons. 
He  never  made  any  show  of  his  scholarship. 
But  if  you  were  intimately  acquainted  with 
him,  the  incidental  and  unconscious  revelations 
in  regard  to  his  breadth  of  scholarship  would 
surprise  you.  I once  asked  him  a question  in 
regard  to  the  Sanscrit  language.  He  said,  “Oh, 
yes,  1 taught  the  Sanscrit  in  India.”  As  a 
scholar  he  was  fuljy  abreast  of  modern  thought. 
He  had  no  old-fogy  ideas.  As  a liberally  edu- 
cated man,  he  was  up  to  date. 

Then  a word  should  be  said  of  Dr.  Bacheler 
as  a trustee  and  member  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  New  Hampton  Institution.  First,  last, 
and  always,  he  was  a missionary,  but  he  was 
at  the  same  time  broad  enough  to  embrace  other 
worthy  interests.  He  was  always  interested  in 
the  prosperity  of  the  Institution.  He  never  was 
sparing  of  his  advice,  his  time,  or  his  money, 
when  the  interest  or  prosperity  of  the  Institution 
was  in  question.  He  was  among  her  earliest 
and  best  friends. 

Then  Dr.  Bacheler  as  a Christian.  On  this 
topic  little  need  be  said.  He  had  simple,  child- 


488 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


like,  manlike  Christian  faith,  and  he  lived  a 
truly  godly  Christian  life.  No  man,  woman,  or 
child  ever  doubted  his  sincerity  or  his  piety. 
His  strenuous  life  of  Christian  labor  served  to 
develop  in  him  a firm,  stalwart  Christian  char- 
acter ; and  the  long  months  of  patient  waiting 
during  his  last  sickness  served  to  ripen  his  heart 
and  soul  for  an  abundant  entrance  into  the 
heavenly  kingdom.  He  ripened  for  heaven. 
“ He  fought  a good  fight,  he  finished  his  course, 
he  kept  the  faith,  and  henceforth  there  is  laid 
up  for  him  a crown  of  righteousness.” 

Again,  a word  may  be  said  of  Dr.  Bacheler 
as  a preacher.  Preaching  in  India  is  a very 
different  thing  from  what  it  is  in  America.  He 
was  just  suited  for  that  kind  of  work,  and  was 
eminently  successful  as  a preacher  in  the  Bazaar. 
But  1 have  sometimes  thought  that  his  preach- 
ing and  thinking  for  so  long  a time  in  those 
oriental  languages  rather  retarded  his  speaking 
in  the  English.  At  least  this  seemed  to  be  the 
case  on  his  earlier  returns  from  India.  But  his 
sermons  in  English  were  interesting  and  effect- 
ual. The  people  always  heard  him  gladly. 

But  it  is  as  a missionary  that  we  should  always 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


489 


think  of  Dr.  Bacheler.  Fifty-three  years  a mis- 
sionary— 1840-1893.  Nearly  thirty-five  years’ 
residence  in  that  deadly  climate  of  India,  cross- 
ing the  ocean  eight  times  going  and  returning 
from  his  chosen  field  of  labor,  burying  his  wife  at 
Midnapore,  burying  his  little  daughter  in  Eng- 
land— but  of  these  things  another  will  speak. 

What  was  Dr.  Bacheler  to  his  family?  One 
of  the  most  trying  things  for  the  foreign  mis- 
sionary is  to  decide  his  duty  in  regard  to  the 
'family  relations.  The  children  of  missionaries 
must  be  kept  with  their  parents  amid  the  terri- 
ble immoral  influences  of  heathendom,  or  they 
must  be  sent  home  to  be  cared  for  by  strangers. 
The  decision  in  such  cases  is  perplexing,  diffi- 
cult, hazardous.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bacheler  were, 
time  and  again,  called  upon  to  make  the  decision. 
The  mission  seemed  to  demand  their  services  ; the 
children  seemed  to  demand  their  care.  Duty 
seemed  to  call  so  loudly  across  the  ocean  that 
they  decided  to  divide  the  family — a part  going, 
a part  remaining.  They  considered  that  the 
duty  belonged  to  them,  the  result  was  with 
' God.  And  the  result  has  proved  the  wisdom 
of  the  decision.  The  heroic  example,  the  self- 


490 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


sacrificing  spirit,  the  fervent  prayers  of  those 
parents,  perhaps,  have  had  a more  beneficial 
influence  on  the  members  of  the  family  than 
would  have  been,  exerted  by  the  continual  pres- 
ence of  those  parents  and  their  personal  care. 
It  was  a source  of  comfort  to  them  that  there 
could  be  no  doubt  that  the  family  will  finally 
be  united,  the  circle  unbroken  in  the  spirit  world. 

And  it  is  and  always  will  be  a source  of  com- 
fort to  these  sons  and  daughters  that  they  so 
cheerfully  yielded  to  the  wishes  of  their  parents, 
and  in  a large  measure  were  deprived  of  the 
comforts  and  blessings  of  their  home  in  order 
that  the  father  and  mother  might  obey  the  call 
of  duty.  And  truly  it  has  been  a comfort  to 
you  to  have  the  privilege  of  smoothing  the  earthly 
pathway  of  those  aged  parents  during  the  closing 
years  of  life.  Your  lives  will  be  sweeter  and 
better  for  the  living  examples  of  patient  waiting 
of  those  pilgrim  missionaries  for  the  call  of  the 
great  Master  to  come  up  higher. 

Hyde  Park,  Mass.,  Oct.  7,  1903. 

I was  associated  with  Mrs.  Bacheler  in  the  early 
forties,  in  Paige  Street  Free  Baptist  Sunday  school, 
Primary  Department,  of  which  she  was  superintendent. 
She  was  filled  with  the  real  missionary  spirit,  a most 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


491 


earnest  worker  spending  much  time  visiting  the  poor 
and  gathering  children  into  the  Sunday  school.  She 
was  wholly  forgetful  of  self,  thinking  only  of  the 
neglected  little  ones. 

1 remember  that  seventy  were  added  to  the  school  in 
one  year,  many  of  them  being  clothed  by  the  ladies  of 
the  church.  1 wish  I could  tell  you  of  many  incidents 
in  her  busy  life  at  that  time,  but  they  have  faded  from 
my  memory.  But  this  1 can  say This  woman  was 
full  of  good  works  and  almsdeeds  which  she  did.” 

1 am  glad  you  are  writing  the  lives  of  these  rare 
missionaries.  The  Doctor  was  always  a Christian  gentle- 
man, and  his  wife  a true  helpmeet. 

I am  glad  to  add  my  tribute  to  the  memory  of  my  life- 
long friends. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Elizabeth  Latham  cole. 


No  one  can  think  of  “Auntie  Bacheler”  without  remem- 
bering her  love  for  flowers.  Her  pots  of  roses  on  the  pucca 
wall  beyond  the  driveway,  and  the  beds  of  flowers  in  the 
garden  plot  farther  on,  were  her  especial  delight.  The 
soil  was  most  dry  and  barren,  but  her  care  made  it  fruitful 
and  kept  it  watered.  Never  shall  I forget  how  one  of  her 
lovely  rosebuds  helped  me.  It  was  in  1876,  when  1 was 
very  ill  in  her  home.  I had  passed  a sleepless  night  of 
pain,  when  my  heart  cried  out  for  some  of  my  very  own 
loved  ones,  and  in  the  morning  1 had  fallen  asleep.  When 
1 woke  there  lay  on  my  pillow  a matchless  half-blown 
rose.  1 took  it  up  and  kissed  it,  and  let  the  tears  come — 
why?  1 knew  that  it  was  Auntie’s  first  and  only  blossom 
from  a plant  that  she  had  bought  long  before  and  tended 
and  watched  with  anxious  care.  And  now  in  its  half- 
blown  loveliness  she  had  broken  it  and  given  it  to  me. 


492 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Ah,  there  was  thoughtful,  self-sacrificing  love  such  as 
Auntie’s  days  were  full  of,  and  who  could  long  be  lonely 
that  came  under  her  care  ? 

One  time,  when  I first  went  to  India,  some  one  came 
running  to  me,  saying  that  a certain  native  Christian  man 
was  cruelly  beating  his  wife.  I ran  into  Dr.  Bacheler’s 
study,  and  found  him  half  reclining  in  a low  chair,  reading 
a big  medical  book.  1 hurriedly  told  him  that  the  man 
was  beating  his  wife,  and  expected  to  see  him  quickly 
start  to  the  rescue.  Instead,  he  quietly  looked  up,  asked 
who  told  me,  and  went  on  reading.  “ But,  Dr.  Bacheler,” 
1 said,  “aren’t  you  going  to  do  anything  about  it?” 
“ Certainly,”  he  said,  and  went  on  reading.  “ Doctor,  do 
go  and  stop  the  man,”  I pleaded.  “ 1 learned  long  ago,” 
he  said,  with  that  cool,  amused  look  that  his  friends  re- 
member, “ not  to  interfere  in  quarrels  between  a man  and 
wife.  Besides,  how  do  1 know  how  much  the  woman  may 
deserve  just  what  she  is  getting?”  “ Do  you  believe  in 
a man’s  pounding  his  wife  for  any  reason  ? ” I said 
excitedly.  “ No.  But  I think  I would  succeed  better  in 
making  him  not  believe  in  it  by  talking  with  him  quietly 
alone  after  his  anger  is  gone  than  by  compelling  him  to 
stop  now.  If  we  can  make  the  man’s  convictions  right, 
his  actions  will  right  themselves,”  and  he  went  on  quietly 
studying.  And  through  the  years  that  I watched  his 
work  1 saw  that  it  was  not  his  policy  to  compel  right 
action,  but  to  quietly,  persistently  mold  and  strengthen 
character.  . . . 

During  my  first  years  in  India,  while  living  in  Dr. 
Bacheler’s  family,  Dr.  Bacheler  invariably  took  a horse- 
back ride  early  in  the  morning,  while  Mrs.  Bacheler  drove 
out  in  her  phaeton.  Mary  and  I took  turns,  each  going 
alternately  driving  with  Auntie  or  riding  a cream-white 
pony  in  company  with  the  Doctor.  What  was  my  sur- 
prise, one  Friday,  to  be  told  that  the  Doctor  and  I had 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


493 


ridden  by  the  old  jail  that  morning  while  a man  was  being 
hanged  and  in  full  sight  of  it.  The  Doctor’s  quick  eye  had 
taken  in  the  situation,  and  to  save  me  from  the  revolting 
sight  he  had  kept  me  looking  at  something  in  the  other 
direction  while  he  talked  interestingly  of  it.  Nor  would 
I ever  have  learned  from  himself  how  his  thoughtfulness 
shielded  me. 

L.  C.  Griffin. 


I have  been  asked  to  write  something  for  the  memoirs 
of  Dr.  Bacheler  and  his  good  wife,  familiarly  called 
“ Auntie.”  I consider  it  an  honor  to  do  so,  and  it  affords 
me  much  pleasure  to  contribute  even  a little.  I would 
that  I could  express  the  appreciation  I feel. 

1 first  became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Bacheler  when  I was 
a lad  not  more  than  thirteen  years  old.  He  was  home 
from  India  on  a furlough,  and  traveled  amongst  some 
of  our  churches  with  oil  paintings  illustrating  the  domestic 
and  religious  life  of  the  Hindus.  Among  the  churches 
visited  was  the  Second  Zorra  church  of  Canada,  of  which 
my  father,  Rev.  Jacob  Griffin,  was  pastor.  That  lecture 
greatly  interested  me,  and  I think  the  interest  awakened 
there  ultimately  led  me  to  India.  During  his  short  stay 
there  he  was  the  guest  of  my  father,  and  I well  remember 
the  willingness  with  which  he  answered  my  many  ques- 
tions about  India. 

Twenty-eight  years  passed  by  before  I saw  him  again, 
and  then  it  was  in  India.  I had  always  venerated  him 
from  my  remembrance  of  him,  but  when  I became  better 
acquainted  I found  that  I had  not  been  cultivating  a 
delusion  which  was  to  pass  away  with  intimate  acquaint- 
ance, but  the  more  intimate  the  acquaintance  the  more  my 
esteem  heightened.  Whether  he  had  a special  regard  for 
me  more  than  others  I do  not  know,  but  he  had  the 
faculty  of  making  one  feel  that  he  was  a special  friend. 


494 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Indeed,  I think  he  was  a special  friend  to  all.  I always 
felt  that  1 could  go  to  him  for  advice  and  help  at  any  time, 
and  1 would  be  sure  to  get  what  1 went  for  if  it  were 
possible  for  him  to  give  it.  One  time  we  were  going  to 
Naini  Tal,  up  in  the  Himalaya  Mountains,  partly  to  rest 
and  partly  to  bring  home  our  children  from  school.  On 
our  way  up  we  stopped  at  Benares,  at  the  home  of  Dr. 
Lazarus,  a great-hearted  Baptist  with  a “ prophet’s 
chamber  ” for  every  Christian  worker  of  whatever  name. 
While  there  1 found  out  that  the  expense  on  up  to  the 
hills  was  more  than  we  had  calculated,  and  I did  not  have 
money  enough  to  take  us  through.  The  situation  was 
distressing.  1 did  not  want  to  go  to  my  host  and  ask  to 
borrow  money,  and  we  were  five  hundred  miles  from  any 
of  our  missionaries.  I bethought  me  of  Dr.  Bacheler, 
and  went  over  to  the  telegraph  office  and  dispatched  a 
message  asking  for  a loan  of  one  hundred  rupees.  In  one 
hour  the  messenger  boy  from  the  telegraph  office  brought 
me  in  the  money.  He  had  sent  it  by  telegraph. 

Dr.  Bacheler  and  “ Auntie  ” were  persons  very  plain 
in  their  habits  and  very  economical  in  their  living,  not 
because  they  were  penurious  but  that  they  might  have 
the  more  to  give.  A more  retiring,  humble-minded  man 
would  be  hard  to  find.  He  was  a man  of  much  learning, 
and  a great  student.  There  seemed  to  be  no  subject  upon 
which  he  could  not  converse  interestingly  and  profitably, 
and  yet  he  never  put  himself  forward.  It  was  his  wont 
sometimes  when  he  went  to  Calcutta  to  hire  one  of  the 
little  boats  which  are  so  numerous  on  the  Hooghly,  and 
have  his  cook  prepare  his  meals  there,  he  also  going 
there  to  sleep,  though  there  was  not  a missionary  in 
Calcutta  but  what  would  have  esteemed  it  an  honor  to 
have  entertained  him.  It  rather  annoyed  him,  I think,  to 
have  people  make  much  ado  over  him  or  make  special 
arrangements  for  him. 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


495 


He  was  a man  of  great  patience.  In  fact  I never  saw 
him  when  he  seemed  irritated.  Things  which  would 
make  some  of  us  fairly  fume  he  took  very  coolly.  To  a 
nervous  or  irritable  person  a thing  often  exasperating 
is  the  crossing  of  the  rivers  on  ferries.  Those  in  our  field 
were  poorly  constructed,  and  the  river  bottoms  wide  and 
the  sand  deep.  To  get  across  was  no  slight  task  at  any 
time.  The  most  of  us  would  try  to  hustle  the  boatmen 
around,  and  perhaps  lend  a hand  ourselves  and  get  all 
heated  up  for  nothing.  Dr.  Bacheler  would  take  his 
book  or  paper  and  make  himself  as  comfortable  as 
possible,  and  let  the  men  have  their  own  way  in  getting 
across.  They  would  generally  “get  there,”  as  we  say, 
but  they  must  have  their  time  to  do  so.  He  had  found 
that  out  years  ago,  and  did  not  allow  himself  to  be  worried 
over  that  which  he  could  not  help  or  better. 

His  regularity  of  habits  had  much  to  do  with  his  long 
stay  in  India.  His  morning  ride  or  drive  was  as  con- 
scientiously taken  as  his  preaching  in  the  Bazaar.  There 
might  be  things  which  seemed  pressing,  sick  people 
might  be  sitting  around  on  the  ground  beside  the  dispen- 
sary, or  native  Christians  might  have  urgent  business, 
but  none  of  these  things  interfered  with  his  exercise. 
“These  things  will  keep,”  he  would  sometimes  say,  and 
of  course  they  would. 

As  regularly  as  the  day  came,  at  about  5 P.  M.,  he 
made  his  way  to  the  Bazaar  to  preach.  He  did  not  always 
preach  himself,  though  he  usually  had  something  to 
say;  but  he  was  there,  and  his  very  presence  gave 
inspiration  and  courage  to  the  students  from  the  Bible 
School  whom  he  was  educating  in  this  way.  He  always 
thought  Bazaar  preaching  very  important,  and  more  than 
once  he  has  told  me  that  it  really  rested  him,  after  a hard 
day’s  work,  to  go  to  the  Bazaar  for  this  service.  He 
delighted  to  make  a grand  rally  of  our  forces  at  times, 


496 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  show  the  natives  that  there  was  something  to  our 
work,  and  fairly  take  Midnapore  by  storm.  On  one 
occasion  we  were  having  our  annual  meeting  in  Midna- 
pore, and  the  Doctor  wanted  to  make  a special  effort  in 
the  Bazaar.  Some  thought  we  had  enough  to  do  to 
attend  the  necessary  meetings  of  our  annual  Conference, 
and  certainly  it  was  hard  work  to  attend  to  all  of  the 
work  in  connection  with  this  meeting,  but  he  was  anxious, 
and  out  of  respect  to  his  wishes,  if  for  nothing  more,  we 
went.  I remember  on  this  particular  occasion  he  divided 
up  his  forces,  and  sent  some  to  one  part  of  the  city  and 
some  to  another. 

One  incident  in  this  connection  will  show  how  thor- 
oughly he  was  interested  in  this  work,  and  also  how 
proud  he  was  of  our  native  preachers  when  they  did  a 
commendable  thing.  1 was  with  him  this  night  in  the 
big  Bazaar,  and  among  the  native  preachers  was  old 
Kamal  Nayak.  Dr.  Bacheler  told  me  in  going  down  that 
some  of  the  Government  college  students  had  been  giving 
him  a good  deal  of  trouble  of  late  by  confounding  some 
of  the  younger  of  the  Bible  School  students.  These 
fellows  were  Hindus,  but  they  were  studying  English, 
and  were  very  conceited.  He  was  really  anxious  that 
they  should  run  up  against  a snag,  and  he  wanted  them 
to  come  in  contact  with  this  same  old  Kamal  Nayak. 
Now,  the  Bengali  ‘ upper  ten  ’ consider  themselves  several 
degrees  above  the  Oriyas.  When  we  arrived  these  fellows 
were  there  in  full  force.  We  knew  we  were  in  for  a war 
of  words,  and  a war  which  might  mean  a good  deal  to 
our  young  men  in  the  Bible  School. 

When  Kamal  got  up  and  began  to  talk  a number  of 
these  fellows  began  to  smile,  as  much  as  to  say,  “ Now 
for  some  fun  with  the  old  Oriya.”  Kamal  began  in  a 
very  slow  and  measured  way,  as  was  his  wont,  and  he 
was  not  a very  prepossessing  man  in  appearance.  He 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


497 


had  gone  but  a little  way  when  they  began  to  ask  him 
some  questions.  He  always  answered  a question  by 
asking  another,  and  so  he  began  to  tighten  the  coils  about 
them.  After  a while  they  began  to  get  uneasy,  and  he 
began  to  wax  eloquent.  The  fire  fairly  gleamed  from  his 
eyes.  These  men  tried  to  extricate  themselves,  but  he 
drew  the  coils  about  them  more  tightly.  At  length  they 
were  glad  to  sneak  away,  one  by  one,  as  best  they  could, 
amid  the  jeers  and  exultations  of  the  crowd  of  by- 
standers. That  did  Dr.  Bacheler  a world  of  good.  For 
days  his  sides  would  shake  with  laughter  whenever  he 
would  think  of  it.  He  said  to  me:  “Those  young  men 
will  never  annoy  us  again  as  they  have  in  the  past.  All 
we  will  have  to  do  if  they  begin  any  argument  will  be  to 
mention  the  old  Oriva  preacher.” 

He  was  a man  of  great  hope,  and  took  a cheerful  view 
of  life.  There  are  many  things  which  have  a tendency 
to  dishearten  the  missionary  in  India.  I remember  once 
when  our  committee  was  in  session  the  question  was 
raised  as  to  the  seeming  futility  of  our  work.  Dr.  Bach- 
eler replied,  “ It  may  look  so  by  taking  a casual  glance  at 
a day’s  work  or  a year’s  work,  but  when  we  look  at  the 
work  from  the  broader  vision  extending  over  a period 
of  fifty  years  we  see  that  much  has  been  accomplished.” 
Our  family,  Dr.  Bacheler  and  “ Auntie,”  Dr.  Nellie 
Phillips,  with  the  Boyer  children,  all  left  India  the  same 
winter.  I said  one  day  to  him,  “ Would  it  not  be  nice 
if  we  could  all  go  back  on  the  same  ship  ? ” “ Yes,”  said 
he,  “but  we  are  too  valuable  a cargo  for  all  to  go  on 
the  same  vessel.”  When  asked  how  that  was,  he  said  : 

“ Supposing  the  ship  should  go  down,  what  a loss  our 
mission  would  sustain.  We  will  divide  up  and  all  will  > 
not  be  likely  to  go  down.”  That  was  his  view. 

I must  give  two  more  incidents  in  his  life ; the  one 
showing  his  shrinking  from  being  a burden  to  any  one 


498 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


and  the  other  his  great  love  for  his  work.  We  left  India 
in  1893.  We  planned  to  stop  in  France  for  a time,  and 
they  went  around  through  the  Bay  of  Biscay  and  landed 
in  London.  My  remembrance  is  that  we  left  Calcutta 
a week  or  two  before  they  did.  He  knew  of  our  address 
in  Lyons.  Before  they  arrived  in  London,  Auntie  was 
taken  very  ill  and  not  expected  to  live.  Upon  their 
arrival,  Dr.  Bacheler  wrote  me  of  their  condition,  but 
he  said,  “ Do  not  be  unduly  concerned,  for  I hope  Sarah  will 
pull  through  this  illness,  though  she  is  very  low.”  1 
wrote  him  at  once  that  1 would  come  on  at  an  hour’s 
notice  if  he  needed  me  at  any  time,  and  that  he  was  not 
to  hesitate  to  call  on  me  if  he  thought  1 could  be  of  any 
help.”  He  wrote  back  that  it  was  a great  comfort  to 
him  to  know  that  there  was  some  one  in  reach  who  was 
willing  to  help  if  needed  and  that  he  would  keep  me 
advised,  and  so  he  did.  “Auntie”  slowly  recovered,  so 
that  a month  later,  the  day  after  we  arrived  in  London, 
Dr.  Bacheler  left  her  room  for  the  first  time  in  weeks,  and 
spent  the  day  looking  about  London  with  us.  He  had 
always  been  so  strong  and  so  self-reliant  that  some  way 
we  had  never  looked  for  anything  else,  but  his  anxiety 
and  work  and  care  for  those  long  weeks  in  a great 
strange  city  had  visibly  weakened  him,  and  he  seemed  as 
pleased  as  a child  to  see  us,  and  really  to  lean  upon  me 
for  the  few  days  we  were  in  London  together.  We  stayed 
long  enough  to  see  them  start  for  Southampton,  where 
they  took  one  of  the  American  line  ships  for  America. 

The  last  time  I saw  Dr.  Bacheler  was  at  his  home  in 
New  Hampton,  N.  H.  It  was  late  in  autumn.  He  took 
me  back  over  his  little  farm  to  show  me  his  few  worldly 
possessions,  but  his  heart  was  not  in  his  farm.  Our 
conversation  was  of  India.  As  we  strolled  over  the 
meadow  he  suddenly  stopped  and  said  : “ Do  you  know, 
Bro.  Griffin,  that  1 often  wish  that  the  Hindu  doctrine 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


499 


of  the  transmigration  of  souls  were  true,  and  that  when 
1 die  this  spirit  of  mine  could  enter  some  young  body, 
and  that  I could  go  back  to  India  again.  My  heart 
is  over  there,  and  1 long  to  be  there,  though  I shall  never 
return  again  in  the  flesh.” 

Upon  whom  is  his  mantle  to  fall?  I have  probably  ex- 
ceeded my  space,  though  1 have  said  but  little  of  what  is 
in  my  heart  to  say. 

I did  not  know  “Auntie”  so  well,  but  I do  know  that 
she  was  most  thoroughly  consecrated  to  her  work,  that 
she  loved  her  work,  and  especially  her  work  for  the  chil- 
dren, and  that  she  was  one  of  the  most  unselfish  persons 
I ever  saw.  If  she  could  relieve  distress  or  in  any  way 
help  any  one,  she  was  always  ready  to  do  so,  never 
thinking  of  her  own  ease  or  comfort  or  gain.  For  us 
heaven  will  have  one  more  strong  attraction  by  their 
going  there. 

z.  F.  Griffin. 


Keuka  park,  n.  y. 

I first  met  Bro.  Bacheler  at  General  Conference  in 
Fairport,  N.  Y.,  in  1853. 

A very  dear  friend,  the  late  Mrs.  Hills,  had  placed  the 
foreign  mission  work  prominently  before  me,  and  sug- 
gested the  probability  of  my  being  called  to  that  work. 
She  arranged  for  an  interview  with  Dr.  Bacheler  and  Bro. 
J.  C.  Dow,  who  were  both  at  home  on  furlough  at  that 
time.  The  two  brethren  catechised  the  prospective  can- 
didate for  mission  work  pretty  thoroughly,  and  at  con- 
siderable length.  What  their  report  was  I never  knew. 

The  next  time  Bro.  Bacheler  and  myself  met  was  at  his 
house  in  New  Hampton.  There  he  aimed  to  give  much- 
needed  light  and  information  with  regard  to  the  field  and 
work  in  Orissa. 


500 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


In  the  cold  season  of  1862-63  we  met  again  at  Midna- 
pore,  India.  At  that  time  we  had  no  station  there;  but 
Bro.  Bacheler  and  myself  went  into  camp  there,  to  do 
evangelistic  work,  and  to  reconnoitre  with  a view  to  the 
establishment  of  a mission  station  in  that  place. 

1 remember  that  when  the  tents  were  being  pitched  I 
was  busy  helping  in  the  work,  and  using  the  maul 
somewhat  vigorously.  Our  good  Bro.  Bacheler  said, 
“ Now,  brother,  leave  it  to  them  ; they  will  do  it  all  right.” 
The  wisdom  of  this  counsel  was  discovered  a little  later 
on  by  the  junior  missionary.  Bro.  Bacheler’s  care  to 
avoid  unnecessary  physical  exertion  was,  doubtless,  one 
reason  for  his  long  term  of  service  in  the  field.  He  did 
not  needlessly  expend  his  energies  in  doing  what  the 
natives  of  the  country  could  do  without  him.  If,  at  any 
time,  he  could  show  the  native  brethren  how  to  do  a piece 
of  work  to  better  advantage,  he  was  always  ready.  Our 
departed  brother  never  lost  sight  of  the  fact  that  evan- 
gelistic work  was  the  missionary’s  first  work  ; and  must, 
under  no  circumstances,  be  neglected.  In  this  work  he 
was  persistent  in  season  and  out  of  season.  Though  he 
had  not  the  readiest  and  most  fluent  use  of  the  vernacular, 
he  would  never  fail  to  improve  an  opportunity  to  present 
the  truth  to  the  people.  On  one  occasion  he  and  one 
of  the  junior  brethren  were  returning  together  from  Mitra- 
pore  to  Balasore,  and  at  a midway  village,  Rebnah,  they 
found  a native  market  in  full  blast.  Here  was  an  oppor- 
tunity to  preach,  and  preach  he  would.  The  younger 
brother  felt  a little  diffident  about  undertaking  the  work 
without  the  support  of  the  native  preachers,  who  had 
not  yet  arrived,  and  he  said  as  much  to  Brother  Bacheler. 
He  replied,  ‘‘You  be  the  native  preacher,  and  I will  be 
the  sahib”  (missionary).  And  so  an  excellent  opportu- 
nity to  preach  the  gospel  was  promptly  improved. 

E.  C.  B.  HALLAM. 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


501 


Bhimpore,  India. 

Dear  old  Doctor  ! 1 doubt  whether  he  ever  realized  how 
much  we  loved  and  depended  upon  him,  during  those 
early  days  when  we  were  ignorant  of  the  ways  and 
means  of  mission  work.  When  we  arrived  in  Calcutta 
in  June  of  ’65  he  was  there  to  welcome  us  and  provide 
for  our  journey  to  Midnapore,  seventy-five  miles  distant. 
There  was  no  railroad  then  as  now,  but  instead  native 
boats  for  twenty-five  miles  down  the  Hooghly  River,  after 
which  ponies  for  the  gentlemen  and  palkies  for  the  ladies. 

At  that  time  Doctor  was  the  only  missionary  in  Mid- 
napore, Auntie  (Mrs.  Bacheler)  had  not  returned  from 
America,  so  we  went  to  him  for  advice  on  all  questions. 
How  kindly  and  patiently  he  would  drop  his  work  and 
assist  us ! He  had  been  in  the  city  only  three,  possibly 
four  years,  but  he  had  within  that  time  secured  a fine 
piece  of  property  for  mission  purposes,  built  a brick 
chapel,  printing  press,  and  established  a native  Christian 
village.  While  doing  this  he  and  one  of  the  native 
preachers  lived  in  the  ruins  of  a Mohammedan  house. 

The  chapel  was  larger  than  was  needed  at  that  time, 
hence  Doctor  found  more  comfortable  quarters  for  himself 
by  putting  up  a temporary  wall  across  one  end. 

I do  not  remember  of  his  ever  giving  unasked-for  ad- 
vice, and  ever  claiming  the  rights  of  the  “ senior  mis- 
sionary.” He  thought  best  to  allow  experience  to  teach 
needed  lessons,  rather  than  force  upon  us  knowledge  he 
had  acquired  in  the  same  school.  Never  shall  I forget  a 
very  amusing  incident  which  occurred  during  those  early 
days.  He  strongly  encouraged  us  to  spend  a portion 
of  each  day  among  the  people,  so  as  to  study  them  and 
their  language;  hence  Mrs.  Phillips  and  I made  almost 
daily  visits  to  the  Christian  village,  with  dictionaries  in 
our  hands.  It  did  not  require  many  visits  to  show  us 
that  a native  housewife’s  ideas  of  order  and  cleanliness 


502 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


were  not  of  the  New  England  type  certainly!  Being 
exceedingly  anxious  to  do  something  to  better  their  condi- 
tion, and  feeling  sure  that  all  they  needed  was  to  once 
enjoy  the  luxury  of  a clean,  orderly  house,  we  went  to 
work  with  more  zeal  than  knowledge,  to  set  things  to 
rights.  We  began  with  the  preacher’s  house  and  did 
thorough  work,  going  to  Doctor  for  corrosive  sublimate 
to  destroy  the  vermin  ! In  his  quiet  way  he  generously 
gave  us  all  we  wished,  laughing  in  his  sleeves,  I doubt 
not,  all  the  while.  Suffice  it  to  say  we  did  effect  a revolu- 
tion ! 

More  than  twenty  years  afterwards,  at  one  of  our  yearly 
gatherings,  when  all  of  the  missionaries  were  together 
in  his  dining  room,  several  of  whom  had  just  arrived, 
Doctor  in  his  kindly  and  impressive  way  related  this 
circumstance,  touching  up  the  story  here  and  there  with 
its  amusing  features,  then  closed  by  saying  that  he  had 
learned  that  true  progress  must  come  from  the  inside 
out,  rather  than  from  the  outside  in. 

During  the  time  that  he  was  principal  of  the  Bible 
School,  the  great  thing  that  he  kept  prominent  before 
the  minds  of  the  students  was  true  Christian  manliness. 
Fastened  to  the  walls  of  the  school  rooms,  in  conspicuous 
places  and  in  large  letters,  were  the  words,  Be  men , Be  men. 

Two  things  in  his  daily  life  he  conscientiously  adhered 
to  as  long  as  strength  lasted : one  was  early  morning 
exercise  before  he  began  the  day’s  work,  and  the  other 
bazaar  preaching  in  the  afternoon.  The  cream  of  the 
day  he  used  to  say  was  the  half  hour  before  sunrise. 
As  regularly  as  the  sun  rose,  unless  something  unusual 
occurred  to  hinder,  we  would  see  him  out  on  his  pony. 
For  years  it  was  a lively  canter,  then  it  came  down  to 
a quiet  walk.  At  last  he  gave  up  the  saddle  entirely, 
and  was  content  to  go  for  a drive  with  Auntie  in  the 
buggy. 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


503 


It  was  a great  grief  to  him  that  some  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  mission  did  not  consider  the  public 
preaching  of  the  word  in  the  bazaar  as  important  a branch 
of  our  work  as  he  did.  I think  I never  have  seen  any  one 
who  was  so  persistent  both  in  learning  the  vernacular 
and  in  imparting  instruction  to  the  natives  as  was  Auntie 
Bacheler.  She  was  Auntie  to  all  of  us. 

Dear  Doctor  and  Auntie!  Would  that  we  might  have 
many  more  of  kindred  spirit,  who  would  love  the  na- 
tives as  they  loved  them,  who  were  instant  in  season 
and  out  of  season  to  lend  a helping  hand  to  all  in  need. 

JULIA  P.  BURKHOLDER. 


Chandbali,  India,  Dec.  14th,  1903. 

Dr.  Bacheler  met  me  at  the  steamer  in  Calcutta,  and 
brought  me  to  Midnapore  by  a small  boat,  through  the 
canal;  this  was  on  my  first  arrival  in  India.  From  that 
day  he  was  a father  to  me,  and  took  special  Interest  in  my 
success  as  a Christian  and  a missionary.  His  advice  I 
always  found  it  well  to  follow.  While  free  to  give  advice 
he  very  seldom  gave  it  without  being  asked.  I think  that 
he  was  a model  missionary  in  that  he  never  worried,  did 
each  day  what  he  could  consistently,  and  let  the  rest  go  ; 
neither  did  he  consider  it  a sin  if  he  was  not  all  the  time 
on  “the  run,  hop,  step,  and  jump”  to  get  to  a prayer 
meeting  or  something  very  religious.  He  was  methodical^ 
but  did  not  allow  his  method  to  make  him  a slave.  Gener- 
ous and  helpful,  his  whole  life  may  be  summed  up  in 
the  one  word — Christian. 

M.  J.  COLDREN. 


Kanial  Nay  ah'  s narration  of  his  first  interview  with  Dr.  O.  R. 
Hacheler. 

BALASORE,  INDIA. 

1 was  working  at  Jellasore,  sometime  in  1862  or  1863, 
as  a preacher.  Rev.  E.  C.  B.  Hallam  was  then  the 


504 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


missionary  in  charge  of  that  station.  During  this  time 
Dr.  Bacheier  returned  to  India  the  first  time.  In  his  first 
visit  to  India  he  selected  Balasore  as  his  headquarters. 
The  Balasore  church,  the  Charitable  Dispensary,  a medi- 
cal training  school  were  among  other  things  the  best 
of  his  works  at  Balasore.  On  his  second  visit  to  India 
he  selected  Midnapore  as  his  station. 


When  lie  reached  Midnapore  Mr.  Hallam  told  me  that 
he  had  come  back  and  that  he  wanted  to  go  to  meet  him, 
and  asked  me  to  accompany  him.  So  we  both  went  to 
Midnapore  to  meet  Dr.  Bacheier.  When  we  reached 
there  we  found  Dr.  Bacheier  residing  in  a dak  bungalow 
near  the  riverside.  Mr.  Hallam  went  to  meet  him  first 
and  then  I went.  I saw  both  Mr.  Hallam  and  Dr.  Bacheier 


fv  4 ■ y 


KAMAL  NAYAK 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


505 


walking  on  the  veranda,  and  Mr.  Hallam  was  pointing 
out  to  me  when  I appeared  and  salaamed  the  Doctor.  1 
appeared  as  a hunter,  with  my  favorite  gun  on  my  shoulder 
and  the  ammunition  bag  hanging  on  my  loins.  Mr. 
Hallam  cried,  “ Here  comes  my  young  soldier  of  the 
field  ! ” Dr.  Bacheler,  feeling  my  hands,  arms,  and  body, 
then  said  to  me  in  Oriya,  “ Brother,  you  appear  to  be  a 
very  strong  and  hard-working  man  and  I hope  you  will 
be  the  man  best  suited  for  our  Lord’s  field!”  A strong 
and  robust  man  I was  in  my  youth  ! 

The  second  time  I was  with  Dr.  Bacheler  was  in  1864 
or  1865.  He  was  a good  marksman  and  loved  hunting. 
He  brought  his  gun  to  Mitrapore,  where  I was  located  as 
the  pastor  of  the  church.  Information  had  been  sent  me 
of  his  coming,  so  1 engaged  lots  of  coolies  for  the  purpose 
of  hunting  in  a small  hill  called  “ Begunia  Huri,”  which 
was  then  full  of  tigers  and  bears.  Mr.  Miller  accompanied 
Dr.  Bacheler.  1 had  them  sit  in  selected  places.  A huge 
bear  appeared  at  last,  and  Dr.  Bacheler  hit  him  in  the 
leg  and  broke  it.  The  animal  then  became  very  furious 
and  snatched  away  a part  of  the  toe  of  a coolie  while  the 
latter  was  trying  to  climb  a tree.  Dr.  Bacheler  again 
levelled  his  gun  and  shot  the  bear  dead  on  the  spot. 
With  great  rejoicing  the  animal  was  brought  down  to  the 
koti  (bungalow),  where  it  was  skinned,  and  the  flesh  was 
boiled  for  fat,  a portion  of  it  being  reserved  and  cooked 
for  the  Doctor’s  table.  Mr.  Miller  afterwards  told  me 
that  he  did  not  partake  of  the  delicacy  because  the  hands 
of  the  bear,  when  skinned,  appeared  to  him  like  the  hands 
of  a man  affected  with  white  leprosy ! I do  not  hesitate 
to  admit  that  I ate  a portion  of  the  flesh  with  the  Doctor, 
though  I do  not  remember  how  it  tasted.  After  this  I 
met  Dr.  Bacheler  several  times,  but  there  is  nothing 
special  to  note. 

Sincerely  yours, 

KAMAL  NAYAK. 


506 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


The  memory  of  Dr.  Bacheler  is  one  of  God’s  best  gifts 
to  me. 

Three  times  he  especially  came  into  my  life.  First  in 
the  winter  of  ’83— ’84,  when  he  came  to  my  home  and  we 
talked  over  my  going  to  India.  Again  in  the  fall  of  ’85, 
when  he  returned  to  India  alone  and  came  to  encourage 
us  in  our  loneliness  at  Midnapore  and  to  help  in  the  work 
which  Dr.  Phillips’s  departure  had  left  to  an  inexperienced 
missionary.  For  the  last  time  his  noble  manhood  blessed 
my  life  when  1 visited  him  at  New  Hampton,  in  his  last 
sickness,  and  heard  his  last  whispered  words  to  me, — 
words  that  fell  like  a benediction  from  his  sainted  lips. 
His  words  of  counsel  and  wisdom,  and  his  unassuming  but 
noble  Christian  life  ever  appealed  to  the  best  in  me.  In 
love  and  gratitude  1 would  acknowledge  the  debt  1 owe 
him.  His  life  was  a noble  offering  to  India’s  redemption. 

Fraternally, 

F.  D.  George. 


Letter  from  his  only  surviving  brother , written  to  the  family 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  read  at  the  funeral  services. 

41 1 MASSACHUSETTS  AVE. 

BOSTON,  MASS.,  Jan.  3,  1901. 

To  the  family  of  my  deceased  brother  and  to  the  many  friends 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  who  will  be  gathered  together 
next  Lord's  Day,  and  whom  / would  gladly  greet  as 
brethren  and  companions  in  “ the  Kingdom  and  Patience 
of  Jesus  Christ.'' 

I heard  this  morning  that  my  brother  had  gone  over  the 
river,  leaving  me  alone,  the  last  of  eight  children,  each 
of  whom  lived  to  the  age  of  seventy  years  and  upwards. 

If  prudence  did  not  forbid,  I would  not  allow  anything 
to  hinder  my  being  with  you,  but,  as  it  is,  I ask  the  privi- 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


507 


lege  of  imagining  myself  with  you,  and  telling  you,  by 
word  of  mouth,  what  I would  now  try  to  write,  “ Weep 
not  when  the  Christian  dieth.” 

When  I stood  by  the  open  coffin  of  my  father,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  almost  eighty-five,  I could  only  exclaim, 
“What  hath  God  wrought?”  And  now  the  thought 
that  rises  above  every  other  is,  “ What  hath  God  wrought 
through  the  agency  of  my  once  little  brother.”  With  the 
first  day  of  this  year  my  brother  lacked  but  sixteen  days 
of  eighty-four  years,  and  I was.  exactly  two  years  older. 
Thus  we  were  children  together,  — bed-fellows,  at  the 
same  table,  in  the  same  district  school,  in  the  same  Sun- 
day school,  in  the  same  church,  and  in  the  good  provi- 
dence of  God  we  were  both  brought  into  the  Kingdom  in 
the  same  protracted  meeting,  which  was  the  first  meeting 
of  the  kind  held  in  New  England.  This  was  held  for 
four  days,  in  the  Congregational  church  in  Holliston, 
Mass.,  in  September,  1830.  At  that  time  my  brother  was 
fourteen  years  of  age,  lacking  four  months  and  some  days. 
Two  years  after  this  he  was  baptized  into  the  fellowship 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  then  just  formed  in 
Holliston,  and  notwithstanding  his  extreme  youth  he 
became  a very  active  member;  he  was  also  a very  loyal 
member.  Notwithstanding  this,  after  a few  years  he 
found  that  his  path  of  duty  led  to  the  Free  Will  Baptist 
church,  and  with  the  utmost  good-will  of  his  brethren 
whom  he  was  leaving,  he  united  with  the  Free  Will  Bap- 
tist church  in  Boston.  Without  doubt,  he  had  already 
heard  the  call,  “Go  preach  my  gospel”;  and  very  soon 
he  was  licensed  by  the  church  which  he  had  joined,  and 
commenced  preaching. 

The  foreign  field  rose  before  him,  and  he  accepted  that 
as  his  place  of  work.  As  a preparation  for  it  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  by  himself,  attended  a 
course  of  medical  lectures  at  Hanover,  N.  H.,  and  another 


508 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


at  Boston.  In  consideration  of  the  fact  that  his  medical 
practice,  though  very  extensive,  was  to  be  without  any 
pecuniary  reward,  no  charge  was  made,  either  at  Hanover 
or  Boston,  and  after  he  had  been  in  India  several  years 
Hanover  gave  him  his  degree  of  M.  D. 

One  incident  I have  not  given  in  its  proper  place,  and  it 
must  not  be  overlooked  ; it  is  with  reference  to  his  earlv 
religious  experience,  his  conversion.  Not  until  after  his 
return  from  India,  his  final  return,  did  1 learn  it,  for  he  was 
not  very  communicative,  and  I never  asked  him.  But 
after  his  return  I found  that  I had  a very  special  reason 
for  wishing  to  know,  and  so  I asked  him.  He  said  : “ I 
went  to  the  four  days’  meeting,  was  not  particularly  im- 
pressed by  anything  that  occurred,  until  the  close  of  the 
afternoon  service  of  the  last  day.  Then  good  old  Father 
Wood,  the  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Mendon, 
gave  us  one  of  his  good,  warm  exhortations,  and  1 
decided.”  This  was  all  he  said,  and  it  was  all  he  had  to 
say  about  it.  But  that  decision  of  his  was  just  character- 
istic of  his  whole  after  life.  When  anything  was  to  be 
done,  he  just  went  and  did  it. 

But  his  mortal  life  is  closed.  It  was  just  seventy 
years  ago  last  September  that  he  made  the  decision  to 
accept  the  service  of  our  ascended  Lord,  and  in  that 
consecration  he  never  faltered.  This  was  the  explanation 
of  the  success  that  so  generally  attended  him  in  every- 
thing that  he  undertook.  His  work  was  public,  and 
was  known  to  others  far  better  than  to  me.  But  these 
items  that  I have  mentioned  were  known  to  me  and 
not  to  others.  For  this  reason  I venture  to  ask  (if  it 
is  not  deemed  improper)  that  before  you  commit  the 
remains  of  my  dear  brother  to  their  final  earthly  resting- 
place,  you  allow  what  I have  written  to  be  publicly  read 
as  my  testimony  in  the  case. 

And  thus  “he  being  dead  shall  yet  speak.’’  And  1 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


509 


will  close  by  repeating  what  I have  before  said,  “ What 
hath  God  wrought?  ” 

Yours  in  the  obedience  and  hope  and  comfort  of  the 
Gospel, 

F.  L.  BACHELER. 


BERWICK,  ME.,  Dec.  6,  1903. 

t Beloved : — 

When  the  Doctor  was  home  in  ’58,  as  I remember,  he 
spent  a Sabbath  in  Bangor,  the  forenoon  at  the  1st  Church 
with  Rev.  Mr.  Tarbox,  and  the  afternoon  in  the  2nd 
Church  with  me,  and  remained  with  me  in  our  humble 
home  most  of  the  following  week,  and  while  to  us  it  was 
a rare  treat,  he  claimed  a good  rest.  On  leaving,  the  last 
of  the  week,  I went  with  him  to  a point  of  parting,  when 
holding  his  hand  I said,  “ Doctor,  how  can  you  do  this  — 
how  can  you  leave  your  children,  and  all  of  your  many 
friends,  to  go  back  and  spend  life  among  a strange  peo- 
ple?” He  held  my  hand  and  turned  his  eyes  toward 
the  east,  and  then  with  a smile  looked  me  in  the  face  and 
said,  “ The  luxury  of  doing  good.”  And  never  have  1 
found  myself  in  a hard  spot  but  the  smile  and  timely 
word  of  Dr.  Bacheler  has  cheered  me  on.  It  was  to  me 
indeed  a word  fitly  spoken,  and  has  been  to  me  as  “ apples 
of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver.” 

All  and  always  for  the  Master, 

J.  BOYD. 


NEW  HAMPTON,  Oct.  23,  1903. 

The  first  time  1 ever  saw  Dr.  Bacheler  was  in  the  even- 
ing of  May  12,  1893,  the  day  he  arrived  at  New  Hampton 
from  his  last  sojourn  in  India.  Dr.  Meservey  and  1 went 
to  his  home  to  welcome  him  back  to  his  place.  1 was 
struck  with  the  modesty  of  his  bearing,  and  never  after- 
ward had  reason  to  modify  my  first  impression.  On 
consulting  my  diary  I find  that  1 took  occasion  to  visit 


510 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


his  home  many  times  during  the  three  years  I was  his 
pastor.  One  of  my  pleasant  memories  1 have  concerning 
him  is  the  grave  attention  he  always  gave  to  my  preach- 
ing, just  as  though  it  were  the  best  preaching  in  the  world, 
and  merited  the  most  patient  listening.  He  was  always 
at  church  unless  detained  by  sickness,  and  always  the 
kindly  hearer  I have  described.  He  seldom  said  anything 
to  the  preacher  concerning  his  sermon,  but  often  spoke 
to  others  concerning  it.  He  was  very  constant  in  attend- 
ance at  our  monthly  conferences,  though  not  a member 
of  this  church.  He  preferred  to  let  his  membership  re- 
main with  his  church  in  India.  I remember  one  remark 
he  made  in  the  Conference  one  day.  He  said,  “Some- 
how it  always  seemed  to  be  my  lot  to  go  where  other 
people  refused  to  go,  and  to  undertake  tasks  others  were 
reluctant  to  undertake.”  He  said  this  very  cheerfully 
and  very  humbly.  He  never  boasted.  He  seldom  al- 
luded to  himself  publicly  or  in  private.  It  was  only  by 
dint  of  close  and  persistent  questioning  that  facts  could 
be  extorted  from  him  which  could  tend  to  exalt  him  in 
the  eyes  of  others.  At  onetime,  an  enthusiast  for  tithing 
visited  our  church,  and  spoke  eloquently  on  the  subject. 
In  answer  to  a question,  it  came  to  light  that  Doctor 
Bacheler  had  been  a tither  for  forty  years.  He  always 
had  on  hand  money  for  any  benevolent  object,  and  always 
seemed  to  be  giving  far  beyond  his  means.  He  bore 
strong  testimony  to  the  satisfaction  he  had  always  taken 
in  this  method  of  benevolence. 

Dr.  Bacheler  was  always  a strong  supporter  of  the 
New  Hampton  Literary  Institution,  and  stood  in  the  fore- 
front in  advocating  measures  that  would  keep  the  school 
on  the  firing-line  of  progress. 

If  space  permitted,  some  very  pleasant  reminiscences 
might  be  cited  in  proof.  As  one  of  the  trustees,  he  served 
conscientiously  and  efficiently  for  many  years.  Dr.  Bache- 
ler was  an  ardent  prohibitionist.  He  was  an  idealist 


THE  FRIENDLY  TRIBUTE 


511 


rather  than  an  opportunist,  and  was  in  temperance,  what 
he  had  been  in  the  old  antislavery  days,  a radical.  Yet 
he  was  never  offensive  in  the  advocacy  of  his  views.  He 
respected  the  right  of  others  to  have  their  own  opinions 
on  all  such  questions.  He  was  a model  citizen.  He  was 
altogether  a manly  man.  He  was  almost  an  ideal  Chris- 
tian. I have  always  been  thankful  that  1 was  permitted 
such  intimacy  with  him  for  nearly  five  years,  three  of 
which,  as  already  noted,  I was  his  pastor. 

G.  L.  White. 


From  Frank  IV.  Preston , principal  of  New  Hampton  Literary 
Institution. 

New  Hampton,  n.  H.,  Oct.  28,  1903. 

Dr.  O-  R.  Bacheler,  when  in  this  country,  spent  most 
of  his  time  at  New  Hampton,  where  his  life  was  indeed 
a benediction  to  those  who  met  him  in  daily  intercourse. 

I knew  him  well  for  fully  a quarter  of  a century. 

He  was  indeed  to  me  a true  and  loving  friend  and  a 
gracious  and  wise  counsellor. 

His  knowledge  of  history,  his  interest  in  current  events, 
his  grasp  on  international  relations,  his  love  for  scientific 
truth,  his  devotion  to  our  Christian  faith  and  his  rever- 
ence for  God,  gave  evidence  of  a purity  of  heart  and  a 
consecration  of  soul  which  but  few  possess. 

“ Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart, for  they  shall  see  God,” 
was  uttered  by  the  Master  as  vital  truth.  It  has  been 
reiterated  .in  the  lives  of  the  true  and  noble  in  all  ages. 

In  the  life  of  no  man,  within  the  limits  of  my  acquaint- 
ance, has  this  truth  been  more  manifest  than  in  the  life  of 
Dr.  Bacheler. 

His  purity  of  soul  permitted  him  to  see  God  in  all  about 
him,  and  I believe  in  very  truth  that  he  walked  and  talked 
with  God.  He  was  indeed  one  of  God’s  noblemen. 


512 


LIFE  OF  DR.  BACHELER 


Center  Sandwich,  N.  H.,  Nov.  3,  1903. 

My  personal  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Bacheler  began  in 
1885,  when  he  visited  me  in  college,  and  urged  me  to  go  to 
India  at  once  after  graduation.  I objected  that  I had  not 
yet  finished  my  education.  With  that  peculiar  twinkle  in 
his  eyes  that  afterward  became  so  familiar,  he  said, 
“ Neither  have  I.”  He  was  ever  a student  and  a learner. 

Three  years  later  my  wife  and  I landed  in  Calcutta. 
Dr.  Bacheler’s  kindly  face  was  one  of  the  first  to  welcome 
us.  How  delighted  he  was  to  see  us,  so  much  so  that 
we  were  glad  to  be  there  for  the  sake  of  seeing  his  glad- 
ness. It  was  he  that  introduced  us  to  the  strange  experi- 
ence of  oriental  shopping.  How  uneasy  1 got  with  the 
tedious  process,  . . . and  how  well  I remember  him  sitting 
with  crossed  legs  singing, 

“ By  cool  Siloam’s  shady  rill 
How  fair  the  lily  grows  ! ” 

while  he  waited  for  the  shopkeepers  to  come  to  his  terms. 

The  first  morning  in  Midnapore,  the  day  had  hardly 
broken,  when  1 heard  a call  at  the  door.  The  Doctor  was 
there,  astride  a diminutive  pony,  and  had  another,  still 
more  diminutive,  for  me.  He  said,  “ If  you  want  to  live 
well  in  India,  you  must  get  out  for  the  early  morning  air.” 

Then  those  Friday  nights,  when  all  the  missionaries 
of  the  station  came  together  for  supper  and  our  English 
prayer  meetings  ! How  we  enjoyed  the  meetings  at  his 
house  where  he  led  the  devotions.  There  was  a blessed 
combination  of  head  and  heart  as  he  read  the  lesson,  com- 
mented upon  it,  and  then  prayed. 

He  was  a great  man  because 

1.  He  was  a student  always.  2.  He  kept  calm  and 
unruffled  in  the  most  trying  circumstances.  3.  It  was  a 
part  of  his  religion  to  take  care  of  the  body.  4.  He  kept 
on  intimate  terms  with  his  God. 


Edwin  b.  Stiles. 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Libraries 


I Mil  III  I 

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204  0798 


